THE  JAMES  K.  MOFFITT   FUND. 


LIBRARY  OF  THE  UNIVERSITY  OF  CALIFORNIA. 


GIFT    OF 

JAMES    KENNEDY   MOFFITT 

OF  THE   CLASS  OF  '86. 


Accession  No. ^.5.30 1      Class  No.  _^^^^_J__ 


THE  WRITINGS  OF 

HENRYK    SIENKIEWICZ. 


YANKO  THE  MUSICIAN,  and  Other 
Stories. 

LILLIAN  MORRIS,  and  Other  Stories. 
WITHOUT  DOGMA,  a  Novel  of  Mod- 
ern Poland. 


|§ist0rical  l^otnances, 

WITH  FIRE  AND  SWORD. 
THE  DELUGE. 

PAN  MICHAEL. 


ILLIAN  /AORRI5 
AND  OTHERS^') 
STORIES- 


BY-  HENRYK-  SI  EN  WEWICZ 
AVTHOR--OF"-"WlTH 
FIRE  •  -AND  •  SWORD"  •  ETC 
TRANSLATED    -BY 
JEREMIAH-CVRTIN-WITH 
ILLVSTRATIONS-  BY 
ED/AVND  •  HGARRETT 


BOSTON 

LITTLE-BROWNANDOC!A\PANY 

yADCCCXClV' 


Copyright,  1894, 
By  Little,  Brown,  and  Company. 


^nibersitg  Stress: 
John  Wilson  and  Son,  Cambridge. 


^or\teaL>5 


Lillian  Morris 
Sachem     .    .    . 


PAGB 
. I 

^55 

Yamyol 177 

The  Bull-Fight 190 


95301 


8/^ 


i^^N^BfllS 


OF 

BOSTOM 


.^r  \  BRA  ;^^^ 

or  THE 


LILLIAN    MORRIS. 

TOURING  my  stay  in  California  I  went  with 
^-^  my  worthy  and  gallant  friend,  Captain 
R.,  to  visit  Y.,  a  compatriot  of  ours  who  was 
living  in  the  secluded  mountains  of  Santa  Lucia. 
Not  finding  him  at  home,  we  passed  five  days 
in  a  lonely  ravine,  in  company  with  an  old 
Indian  servant,  who  during  his  master's  absence 
took  care  of  the  Angora  goats  and  the  bees. 

Conforming  to  the  ways  of  the  country,  I 
spent  the  hot  summer  days  mainly  in  sleep,  but 
when  night  came  I  sat  down  near  a  fire  of  dry 
"  chamisal,"  and  listened  to  stories  from  the 
captain,  concerning  his  wonderful  adventures, 
and  events  which  could  happen  only  in  the 
wilds  of  America, 


LILLIAN  MORRIS. 


Those  hours  passed  for  me  very  bevvitchingly. 
The  nights  were  real  Californian  :  calm,  warm, 
starry;  the  fire  burned  cheerily,  and  in  its 
gleam  I  saw  the  gigantic,  but  shapely  and  noble 
form  of  the  old  pioneer  warrior.  Raising  his 
eyes  to  the  stars,  he  sought  to  recall  past 
events,  cherished  names,  and  dear  faces,  the 
very  remembrance  of  which  brought  a  mild 
sadness  to  his  features.  Of  these  narratives  I 
give  one  just  as  I  heard  it,  thinking  that  the 
reader  will  listen  to  it  with  as  much  interest 
as  I  did. 


I  CAME  to  America  in  September,  1849,  said 
the  captain,  and  found  myself  in  New  Orleans, 
which  was  half  French  at  that  time.  From 
New  Orleans  I  went  up  the  Mississippi  to  a 
great  sugar  plantation,  where  I  found  work  and 
good  wages.  But  since  I  was  young  in  those 
days,  and  full  of  daring,  sitting  in  one  spot  and 
writing  annoyed  me ;  so  I  left  that  place  soon 
and  began  life  in  the  forest.  My  comrades 
and  I  passed  some  time  among  the  lakes  of 
Louisiana,  in  the  midst  of  crocodiles,  snakes, 


LlLLTAJSr  MORRIS. 


and  mosquitoes.  We  supported  ourselves  with 
hunting  and  fishing,  and  from  time  to  time 
floated  down  great  numbers  of  logs  to  New 
Orleans,  where  purchasers  paid  for  them  not 
badly  in  money. 

Our  expeditions  reached  distant  places.  We 
went  as  far  as  "  Bloody  Arkansas,"  which, 
sparsely  inhabited  even  at  this  day,  was  well- 
nigh  a  pure  wilderness  then.  Such  a  life,  full 
of  labors  and  dangers,  bloody  encounters  with 
pirates  on  the  Mississippi,  and  with  Indians, 
who  at  that  time  were  numerous  in  Louisiana, 
Arkansas,  and  Tennessee,  increased  my  health 
and  strength,  which  by  nature  were  uncommon, 
and  gave  me  also  such  knowledge  of  the  plains, 
that  I  could  read  in  that  great  book  not  worse 
than  any  red  warrior. 

After  the  discovery  of  gold  in  California, 
large  parties  of  emigrants  left  Boston,  New 
York,  Philadelphia,  and  other  eastern  cities 
almost  daily,  and  one  of  these,  thanks  to  my 
reputation,  chose  me  for  leader,  or  as  we  say, 
captain. 


LILLIAN  MORRIS, 


I  accepted  the  office  willingly,  since  wonders 
were  told  of  California  in  those  days,  and  I  had 
cherished  thoughts  of  going  to  the  Far  West, 
though  without  concealing  from  myself  the 
perils  of  the  journey. 

At  present  the  distance  between  New  York 
and  San  Francisco  is  passed  by  rail  in  a  week, 
and  the  real  desert  begins  only  west  of  Omaha ; 
in  those  days  it  was  something  quite  different. 
Cities  and  towns,  which  between  New  York  and 
Chicago  are  as  numerous  as  poppy-seeds  now, 
did  not  exist  then ;  and  Chicago  itself,  which 
later  on  grew  up  like  a  mushroom  after  rain,  was 
merely  a  poor  obscure  fishing-village  not  found 
on  maps.  It  was  necessary  to  travel  with  wagons, 
men,  and  mules  through  a  country  quite  wild, 
and  inhabited  by  terrible  tribes  of  Indians : 
Crows,  Blackfeet,  Pawnees,  Sioux,  and  Aricka- 
rees,  which  it  was  well-nigh  impossible  to  avoid 
in  large  numbers,  since  those  tribes,  movable 
as  sand,  had  no  fixed  dwellings,  but,  being  hun- 
ters, circled  over  great  spaces  of  prairie,  while 
following  buffaloes  and  antelopes. 


8  LILLIAN  MORRIS. 

Not  few  were  the  toils,  then,  that  threatened 
us ;  but  he  who  goes  to  the  Far  West  must  be 
ready  to  suffer  hardship,  and  expose  his  Ufe 
frequently.  I  feared  most  of  all  the  responsi- 
bility which  I  had  accepted.  .This  matter  had 
been  settled,  however,  and  there  was  nothing 
to  do  but  make  preparations  for  the  road. 
These  lasted  more  than  two  months,  since  we 
had  to  bring  wagons,  even  from  Pittsburgh,  to 
buy  mules,  horses,  arms,  and  collect  large  sup- 
pUes  of  provisions.  Toward  the  end  of  winter, 
however,  all  things  were  ready. 

I  wished  to  start  in  such  season  as  to  pass 
the  great  prairies  lying  between  the  Mississippi 
and  the  Rocky  Mountains  in  spring,  for  I 
knew  that  in  summer  because  of  heat  in  those 
open  places,  multitudes  of  men  died  of  various 
diseases.  I  decided  for  this  reason  to  lead  the 
train,  not  over  the  southern  route  by  St.  Louis, 
but  through  Iowa,  Nebraska,  and  Northern 
Colorado.  That  road  was  more  dangerous 
with  reference  to  Indians,  but  beyond  doubt 


LILLIAN  MORRIS. 


it  was  the  healthier.  The  plan  roused  opposi- 
tion at  first  among  people  of  the  train.  I  de- 
clared that  if  they  would  not  obey  they  might 
choose  another  captain.  They  yielded  after 
a  brief  consultation,  and  we  moved  at  the  first 
breath  of  spring. 

Days  now  set  in  which  for  me  were  toilsome 
enough,  especially  till  such  time  as  men  had 
grown  accustomed  to  me  and  the  conditions 
of  the  journey.  It  is  true  that  my  person 
roused  confidence,  for  my  daring  trips  to  Arkan- 
sas had  won  a  certain  fame  among  the  restless 
population  of  the  border,  and  the  name  of 
''  Big  Ralph,"  by  which  I  was  known  on  the 
prairies,  had  struck  the  ears  of  most  of  my 
people  more  than  once.  In  general,  however, 
the  captain,  or  leader,  was,  from  the  nature  of 
things,  in  a  very  critical  position  frequently 
with  regard  to  emigrants.  It  was  my  duty  to 
choose  the  camping-ground  every  evening, 
watch  over  the  advance  in  the  daytime,  have 
an  eye   on  the  whole  caravan,  which  extended 


10  LILLIAN  MORRIS. 

at  times  a  mile  over  the  prairie,  appoint  sentries 
at  the  halting-places,  and  give  men  permis- 
sion to  rest  in  the  wagons  when  their  turn 
came. 

Americans  have  in  them,  it  is  true,  the  spirit 
of  organization  developed  to  a  high  degree  ;  but 
in  toils  on  the  road  men's  energies  weaken,  and 
unwillingness  seizes  the  most  enduring.  At 
such  times  no  one  wishes  to  reconnoitre  on 
horseback  all  day  and  stand  sentry  at  night, 
but  each  man  would  like  to  evade  the  turn 
which  is  coming  to  him,  and  lie  whole  days  in 
a  wagon.  Besides,  in  intercourse  with  Yankees, 
a  captain  must  know  how  to  reconcile  discipline 
with  a  certain  social  familiarity,  —  a  thing  far 
from  easy.  In  time  of  march,  and  in  the  hours 
of  night- watching,  I  was  perfect  master  of  the 
will  of  each  of  my  companions  ;  but  during  rest 
in  the  day  at  farms  and  settlements,  to  which  we 
came  at  first  on  the  road,  my  role  of  com- 
mander ended.  Each  man  was  master  of  him- 
self then,  and  more  than  once  I  was  forced  to 


LILLIAN  MORRIS.  II 

overcome  the  opposition  of  insolent  adventur- 
ers ;  but  when  in  presence  of  numerous  spec- 
tators it  turned  out  a  number  of  times  that  my 
Mazovian  fist  was  the  stronger,  my  significance 
rose,  and  later  on  I  never  had  personal  encoun- 
ters. Besides,  I  knew  American  character  thor- 
oughly. I  knew  how  to  help  myself,  and,  in 
addition  to  all,  my  endurance  and  willingness 
were  increased  by  a  certain  pair  of  blue  eyes, 
which  looked  out  at  me  with  special  interest 
from  beneath  the  canvas  roof  of  a  wagon.  Those 
eyes  looked  from  under  a  forehead  shaded  by 
rich  golden  hair,  and  they  belonged  to  a  maiden 
named  Lillian  Morris.  She  was  delicate,  slen- 
der, with  finely  cut  features,  and  a  face  thought- 
ful, though  almost  childlike.  That  seriousness 
in  such  a  young  girl  struck  me  at  once  when 
beginning  the  journey,  but  duties  connected 
with  the  office  of  captain  soon  turned  my  mind 
and  attention  elsewhere. 

During    the    first   weeks    I    exchanged   with 
Miss  Morris  barely  a  couple  of  words  beyond 


12  LILLIAN  MORRIS. 

the  usual  daily  "good  morning.'^  Taking  com- 
passion, however,  on  her  youth  and  loneliness,  — 
she  had  no  relatives  in  that  caravan,  —  I  showed 
the  poor  girl  some  trifling  services.  I  had  not 
the  least  need  of  guarding  her  with  my  authority 
of  leader  nor  with  my  fist  from  the  forwardness 
of  young  men  in  the  train,  for  among  Ameri- 
cans even  the  youngest  woman  is  sure,  if  not 
of  the  over-prompt  politeness  for  which  the 
French  are  distinguished,  at  least  of  perfect 
security.  In  view,  however,  of  Lillian's  delicate 
health,  I  put  her  in  the  most  commodious 
wagon,  in  charge  of  a  driver  of  great  experi- 
ence, named  Smith.  I  spread  for  her  a  couch 
on  which  she  could  sleep  with  comfort ;  finally, 
I  lent  her  a  warm  buffalo-skin,  of  which  I 
had  a  number  in  reserve.  Though  these  ser- 
vices were  not  important,  Lillian  seemed  to 
feel  a  lively  gratitude,  and  omitted  no  oppor- 
tunity to  show  it.  She  was  evidently  a  very 
mild  and  retiring  person.  Two  women.  Aunt 
Grosvenor   and  Aunt   Atkins,  soon   loved   her 


LILLIAN  MORRIS.  1 3 

beyond  expression  for  the  sweetness  of  her 
character.  "Little  Bird,"  a  title  which  they 
gave  her,  became  the  name  by  which  she  was 
known  in  the  caravan.  Still,  there  was  not  the 
slightest  approach  between  Little  Bird  and  me, 
till  I  noticed  that  the  blue  and  almost  angelic 
eyes  of  that  maiden  were  turned  toward  me, 
with  a  peculiar  sympathy  and  determined  in- 
terest. 

That  might  have  been  interpreted  in  this 
way :  Among  all  the  people  of  the  train  I 
alone  had  some  social  refinement;  Lillian,  in 
whom  also  a  careful  training  was  evident,  saw 
in  me,  therefore,  a  man  nearer  to  her  than 
the  rest  of  the  company.  But  I  understood 
the  affair  somewhat  differently.  The  interest 
which  she  showed  pleased  my  vanity;  my 
vanity  made  me  pay  her  more  attention,  and 
look  oftener  into  her  eyes.  It  was  not  long 
till  I  was  striving  in  vain  to  discover  why,  up 
to  that  time,  I  had  paid  so  little  attention  to 
a  person  so  exquisite,  —  a  person  who  might 


14  LILLIAN  MORRIS. 

inspire  tender  feelings   in  any  man  who  had 
a  heart. 

Thenceforth  I  was  fond  of  coursing  around 
her  wagon  on  my  horse.  During  the  heat  of 
the  day,  which  in  spite  of  the  early  spring 
annoyed  us  greatly  at  noon,  the  mules  dragged 
forward  lazily,  and  the  caravan  stretched  along 
the  prairie,  so  that  a  man  standing  at  the  first 
wagon  could  barely  see  the  last  one.  Often  did 
I  fly  at  such  times  from  end  to  end,  wearying 
my  horse  without  need,  just  to  see  that  bright 
head  in  passing,  and  those  eyes,  which  hardly 
ever  left  my  mind.  At  first  my  imagination  was 
more  taken  than  my  heart ;  I  received  pleasant 
solace  from  the  thought  that  among  those 
strange  people  I  was  not  entirely  a  stranger, 
since  a  sympathetic  little  soul  was  occupied 
with  me  somewhat.  Perhaps  this  came  not 
from  vanity,  but  from  the  yearning  which  on 
earth  a  man  feels  to  discover  his  own  self  in 
a  heart  near  to  him,  to  fix  his  affections  and 
thoughts   on  one  living  beloved  existence,  in- 


LILLIAN  MORRIS. 


Stead  of  wasting  them  on  such  indefinite,  gen-- 
eral  objects  as  plains  and  forests,  and  losing 
himself  in  remotenesses  and  infinities. 

I  felt  less  lonely  then,  and  the  whole  journey 
took  on  attractions  unknown  to  me  hitherto. 
Formerly,  when  the  caravan  stretched  out  on 
the  prairie,  as  I  have  described,  so  that  the  last 
wagons  vanished  from  the  eye,  I  saw  in  that 
only  a  lack  of  attention,  and  disorder,  from 
which  I  grew  very  angry.  Now,  when  I  halted 
on  some  eminence,  the  sight  of  those  wagons 
white  and  striped,  shone  on  by  the  sun  and 
plunging  in  the  sea  of  grass,  like  ships  on  the 
ocean,  the  sight  of  men,  on  horseback  and 
armed,  scattered  in  picturesque  disorder  at  the 
sides  of  the  wagons,  filled  my  soul  with  delight 
and  happiness.  And  I  know  not  whence  such 
comparisons  came  to  me,  but  that  seemed  some 
kind  of  Old  Testament  procession,  which  I, 
like  a  patriarch,  was  leading  to  the  Promised 
Land.  The  bells  on  the  harness  of  the  mules 
and  the  drawling,  *^  Get  up  !  "  of  the  drivers 


1 6  LILLIAN  MORRIS. 

accompanied  like  music  thoughts  which  came 
from  my  heart  and  my  nature. 

But  I  did  not  pass  from  that  dialogue  of 
eyes  with  Lillian  to  another,  for  the  presence 
of  the  women  travelling  with  her  prevented 
me.  Still,  from  the  time  when  I  saw  that  there 
was  something  between  us  for  which  I  could 
not  find  a  name  yet,  though  I  fell  that  the 
something  was  there,  a  certain  strange  timidity 
seized  me.  I  redoubled,  however,  my  care  for 
the  women,  and  frequently  I  looked  into  the 
wagon,  inquiring  about  the  health  of  Aunt 
Atkins  and  Aunt  Grosvenor,  so  as  to  justify  in 
that  way  and  equalize  the  attentions  with  which 
I  surrounded  Lillian;  but  she  understood  my 
methods  perfectly,  and  this  understanding  be- 
came as  it  were  our  own  secret,  concealed  from 
the  rest  of  the  people. 

Soon,  glances  and  a  passing  exchange  of 
words  and  tender  endeavors  were  not  enough 
for  me.  That  young  maiden  with  bright  hair 
and    sweet    look    drew   me    to    her   with    an 


LILLIAN  MORRIS,  I  7 

irresistible  power.  I  began  to  think  of  her 
whole  days ;  and  at  night,  when  wearied  from 
visiting  the  sentries,  and  hoarse  from  crying 
"  All  is  well !  "  I  came  at  last  to  the  wagon, 
and  wrapping  myself  in  a  buffalo- skin,  closed 
my  eyes  to  rest,  it  seemed  to  me  that  the 
gnats  and  mosquitoes  buzzing  around  were  sing- 
ing unceasingly  in  my  ears,  "  Lillian  !  Lillian  ! 
Lillian  !  "  Her  form  stood  before  me  in  my 
dreams ;  at  waking,  my  first  thought  flew  to 
her  like  a  swallow ;  and  still,  wonderful  thing  ! 
I  had  not  noticed  that  the  dear  attraction 
which  everything  assumed  for  me,  that  painting 
in  the  soul  of  objects  in  golden  colors,  and 
those  thoughts  sailing  after  her  wagon,  were 
not  a  friendship  nor  an  inclination  for  an 
orphan,  but  a  mightier  feeling  by  far,  a  feel- 
ing from  which  no  man  on  earth  can  defend 
himself  when  the  turn  has  come  to  him. 

It  may  be  that  I  should   have  noticed  this 
sooner,  had  it  not  been  that  the  sweetness  of 
Lillian's  nature  won  every  one  to  her ;  I  thought, 
2 


1 8  LILLIAN  MORRIS. 

therefore,  that  I  was  no  more  under  the  charm 
of  that  maiden  than  were  others.  All  loved 
her  as  their  own  child,  and  I  had  proof  of 
this  before  my  eyes  daily.  Her  companions 
were  simple  women,  sufficiently  inclined  to 
wordy  quarrels,  and  still,  more  than  once  had 
I  seen  ^  Aunt  Atkins,  the  greatest  Herod  on 
earth,  combing  Lillian's  hair  in  the  morning, 
kissing  her  with  the  affection  of  a  mother; 
sometimes  I  saw  Aunt  Grosvenor  warming  in 
her  own  palms  the  maiden's  hands,  which  had 
chilled  in  the  night.  The  men  surrounded 
her  likewise  with  care  and  attentions.  There 
was  a  certain  Henry  Simpson  in  the  train, 
a  young  adventurer  from  Kansas,  a  fearless 
hunter  and  an  honest  fellow  at  heart,  but 
so  self-sufficient,  so  insolent  and  rough,  that 
during  the  first  month  I  had  to  beat  the  man 
twice,  to  convince  him  that  there  was  some 
one  in  the  train  with  a  stronger  hand  than 
his,  and  of  superior  significance.  You  should 
have   seen  that    same    Henry  Simpson    speak- 


LILLIAN  MORRIS.  19 

ing  to  Lillian.  He  who  would  not  have 
thought  anything  of  the  President  of  the 
United  States  himself,  lost  in  her  presence 
all  his  confidence  and  boldness,  and  repeated 
every  moment,  "  I  beg  your  pardon.  Miss 
Morris ! "  He  had  quite  the  bearing  of  a 
chained  mastiff,  but  clearly  the  mastifT  was 
ready  to  obey  every  motion  of  that  small, 
half- childlike  hand.  At  the  halting-places  he 
tried  always  to  be  with  Lillian,  so  as  to  ren- 
der her  various  little  services.  He  lighted 
the  fire,  and  selected  for  her  a  place  free 
from  smoke,  covering  it  first  with  moss  and 
then  with  his  own  horse-blankets ;  he  chose 
for  her  the  best  pieces  of  game,  doing  all 
this  with  a  certain  timid  attention  which  I 
had  not  thought  to  find  in  him,  and  which 
roused  in  me,  nevertheless,  a  kind  of  ill-will 
very  similar  to  jealousy. 

But  I  could  only  be  angry,  nothing  more. 
Henry,  if  the  turn  to  stand  guard  did  not 
come    to  him,   might  do  what   he  liked  with 


20  LILLIAN  MORRIS. 

his  time,  hence  he  could  be  near  LilHan, 
while  my  turn  of  service  never  ended.  On 
the  road  the  wagons  dragged  forward  one 
after  another,  often  very  far  apart ;  but  when 
we  entered  an  open  country  for  the  midday 
rest  I  placed  the  wagons,  according  to  prairie 
custom,  in  a  line  side  by  side,  so  that  a  man 
could  hardly  push  between  them.  It  is 
difficult  to  understand  how  much  trouble  and 
toil  I  had  before  such  an  easily  defended 
line  w^as  formed.  Mules  are  by  nature  wild 
and  untractable ;  either  they  balked,  or  would 
not  go  out  of  the  beaten  track,  biting  each 
other  meanwhile,  neighing  and  kicking; 
wagons,  twisted  by  sudden  movement,  were 
turned  over  frequently,  and  the  raising  up 
of  such  real  houses  of  wood  and  canvas  took 
no  little  time ;  the  braying  of  mules,  the 
cursing  of  drivers,  the  tinkling  of  bells,  the 
barking  of  dogs  which  followed  us,  caused 
a  hellish  uproar.  When  I  had  brought  all 
into  order  in  some  fashion,  I  had  to  oversee 


LILLIAN  MORRIS. 


the  unharnessing  of  the  animals  and  urge  on 
the  men  whose  work  it  was  to  drive  them  to 
pasture  and  then  to  water.  Meanwhile  men 
who  during  the  advance  had  gone  out  on  the 
prairie  to  hunt,  were  returning  from  all  sides 
with  game ;  the  fires  were  occupied  by  peo- 
ple, and  I  found  barely  time  to  eat  and  draw 
breath. 

I  had  almost  double  labor  when  we  started 
after  each  rest,  for  attaching  the  mules  in- 
volved more  noise  and  uproar  than  letting 
them  out.  Besides,  the  drivers  tried  always 
to  get  ahead  of  one  another,  so  as  to  spare 
themselves  trouble  in  turning  out  of  line  in 
bad  places.  From  this  came  quarrels  and 
disputes,  together  with  curses  and  unpleasant 
delays  on  the  road.  I  had  to  watch  over 
all  this,  and  in  time  of  marching  ride  in 
advance,  immediately  after  the  guides,  to 
examine  the  neighborhood  and  select  in 
season  defensible  places,  abounding  in  water, 
and,  in  general,  commodious  for  night  camps. 


LILLIAN  MORRIS. 


Frequently  I  cursed  my  duties  as  captain, 
though  on  the  other  hand  the  thought  filled 
me  with  pride,  that  in  all  that  boundless 
desert  I  was  the  first  before  the  desert  itself, 
before  people,  before  Lillian,  and  that  the 
fate  of  all  those  beings,  wandering  behind  the 
wagons  over  that  prairie,  was  placed  in  my 
hands. 


JV^Pteb^ 


On  a  certain  time,  after  we  had  passed  the 
Mississippi,  we  halted  for  the  night  at  Cedar 
River,  the  banks  of  which,  grown  over  with 
Cottonwood,  gave  us  assurance  of  fuel  for  the 
night.  While  returning  from  the  men  on  duty, 
who  had  gone  into  the  thicket  with  axes,  I 
saw,  from  a  distance,  that  our  people,  taking 
advantage  of  the  beautiful  weather  and  the 
calm  fair  day,  had  wandered  out  on  the  prairie 
in  every  direction.  It  was  very  early;  we 
halted  for  the  night  usually  about  five  o'clock 


^4  LILLIAN  MORRIS. 

in  the  afternoon,  so  as  to  move  in  the  morning 
at  daybreak.  Soon  I  met  Miss  Morris.  I 
dismounted  immediately,  and  leading  my  horse 
by  the  bridle,  approached  the  young  lady, 
happy  that  I  could  be  alone  with  her  even 
for  a  while.  I  inquired  then  why  she,  so 
young  and  unattended,  had  undertaken  a  jour- 
ney which  might  wear  out  the  strongest  man. 

'^  Never  should  I  have  consented  to  receive 
you  into  our  caravan,"  said  I,  *^  had  I  not 
thought  during  the  first  few  days  of  our 
journey  that  you  were  the  daughter  of  Aunt 
Atkins ;  now  it  is  too  late  to  turn  back.  But 
will  you  be  strong  enough,  my  dear  child? 
You  must  be  ready  to  find  the  journey  here- 
after less  easy  than  hitherto." 

*'  I  know  all  this,"  answered  she,  without 
raising  her  pensive  blue  eyes,  "  but  I  must  go 
on,  and  I  am  happy  indeed  that  I  cannot 
go  back.  My  father  is  in  California,  and  from 
the  letter  which  he  sent  me  by  way  of  Cape 
Horn,  I  learn  that  for   some    months   he  has 


LILLIAN  MORRIS, 


been  ill  of  a  fever  in  Sacramento.  Poor  father  ! 
he  was  accustomed  to  comfort  and  my  care,  — 
and  it  was  only  through  love  of  me  that  he 
went  to  California.  I  do  not  know  whether  I 
shall  find  him  alive ;  but  I  feel  that  in  going 
to  him,  I  am  only  fulfilling  a  duty  that  is 
dear  to  me." 

There  was  no  answer  to  such  words ;  more- 
over, all  that  I  might  object  to  this  undertak- 
ing would  be  too  late.  I  inquired  then  of 
Lillian  for  nearer  details  touching  her  father. 
These  she  gave  with  great  pleasure,  and  I 
learned  that  in  Boston  Mr.  Morris  had  been 
judge  of  the  Supreme  Court,  or  highest  tribunal 
of  the  State ;  that  he  had  lost  his  property, 
and  had  gone  to  the  newly  discovered  mines 
of  California  in  the  hope  of  acquiring  a  new 
fortune,  and  bringing  back  to  his  daughter, 
whom  he  loved  more  than  life,  her  former 
social  position.  Meanwhile,  he  caught  a 
fever  in  the  unwholesome  Sacramento  valley, 
and  judging  that  he  should  die  he  sent  Lillian 


2  6  LILLIAN  MORRIS. 

his  last  blessing.  She  sold  all  the  property 
that  he  had  left  with  her,  and  resolved  to 
hasten  to  him.  At  first  she  intended  to  go 
by  sea ;  but  an  acquaintance  with  Aunt  Atkins 
made  by  chance  two  days  before  the  caravan 
started,  changed  her  mind.  Aunt  Atkins, 
who  was  from  Tennessee,  having  had  her  ears 
filled  with  tales  which  friends  of  mine  from 
the  banks  of  the  Mississippi  had  told  her 
and  others  of  my  daring  expeditions  to  the 
famed  Arkansas,  of  my  experience  in  jour- 
neys over  the  prairies,  and  the  care  which  I 
gave  to  the  weak  (this  I  consider  as  a  simple 
duty),  described  me  in  such  colors  before 
Lillian  that  the  girl,  without  hesitating  longer, 
joined  the  caravan  going  under  my  leadership. 
To  those  exaggerated  narratives  of  Aunt 
Atkins,  who  did  not  delay  to  add  that  I  was 
of  noble  birth,  it  is  necessary  to  ascribe  the 
fact  that  Miss  Morris  was  occupied  with  my 
person. 

"You  may  be  sure,"  said  I,  when  she  had 


LILLIAN  MORRIS.  27 

finished  her  story,  "that  no  one  will  do  you 
any  wrong  here,  and  that  care  will  not  fail 
you ;  as  to  your  father,  California  is  the 
healthiest  country  on  earth,  and  no  one  dies 
of  fever  there.  In  every  case,  while  I  am 
alive,  you  will  not  be  left  alone ;  and  mean- 
while may  God  bless  your  sweet  face  !  '* 

"Thank  you,  captain,'^  answered  she,  with 
emotion,  and  we  went  on;  but  my  heart  beat 
with  more  violence.  Gradually  our  conversa- 
tion became  livelier,  and  no  one  could  foresee 
that  that  sky  above  us  would  become  cloudy. 

"  But  all  here  are  kind  to  you,  Miss  Morris?  " 
asked  I  again,  not  supposing  that  just  that  ques- 
tion would  be  the  cause  of  misunderstanding. 

"Oh  yes,  all,"  said  she,  "and  Aunt  Atkins 
and  Aunt  Grosvenor,  and  Henry  Simpson 
too  is  very  good." 

This  mention  of  Simpson  pained  me  sud- 
denly, like  the  bite  of  a  snake. 

"  Henry  is  a  mule-driver,"  answered  I  curtly, 
"  and  has  to  care  for  the  wagons." 


2  8  LILLIAN  MORRIS. 

But  Lillian,  occupied  with  the  course  of  her 
own  thoughts,  had  not  noticed  the  change  in 
my  voice,  and  spoke  on  as  if  to  herself, — 

*'  He  has  an  honest  heart,  and  I  shall  be 
grateful  to  him  all  my  life." 

"Miss  Morris,"  interrupted  I,  cut  to  the 
quick,  "you  may  even  give  him  your  hand. 
I  wonder,  however,  that  you  choose  me  as  a 
confidant  of  your  feehngs." 

When  I  said  that  she  looked  at  me  with  as- 
tonishment but  made  no  reply,  and  we  went 
on  together  in  disagreeable  silence.  I  knew 
not  what  to  say,  though  my  heart  was  full  of 
bitterness  and  anger  toward  her  and  myself. 
I  felt  simply  conquered  by  jealousy  of  Simpson, 
but  still  I  could  not  fight  against  it.  The  posi- 
tion seemed  to  me  so  unendurable  that  I  said 
all  at  once  briefly  and  dryly, — 

"  Good  night.  Miss  Morris  !  " 

"  Good  night,"  answered  she  calmly,  turning 
her  head  to  hide  two  tears  that  were  dropping 
down  her  cheeks. 


LILLIAN  MORRIS.  29 

I  mounted  my  horse  and  rode  away  again 
toward  the  point  whence  the  sound  of  axes 
came,  and  where,  among  others,  Henry  Simp- 
son was  cutting  a  cottonwood.  After  a  while 
I  was  seized  by  a  certain  measureless  regret, 
for  it  seemed  to  me  that  those  two  tears 
were  falling  on  my  heart.  I  turned  my  horse, 
and  next  minute  I  was  near  Lillian  a  second 
time. 

"Why  are  you  crying.  Miss  Morris?" 
asked  I. 

"Oh,  sir,"  said  she,  "I  know  that  you  are 
of  a  noble  family.  Aunt  Atkins  told  me  that, 
and  you  have  been  so   kind  to  me." 

She  did  everything  not  to  cry ;  but  she 
could  not  restrain  herself,  and  could  not  fin- 
ish her  answer,  for  tears  choked  her  voice. 
The  poor  thing !  she  had  been  touched  to 
the  bottom  of  her  pensive  soul  by  my  an- 
swer regarding  Simpson,  for  there  was  evident 
in  it  a  certain  aristocratic  contempt ;  but  I 
was    not    even    dreaming    of    aristocracy,  —  I 


30  LILLIAN  MORRIS. 

was  simply  jealous ;  and  now,  seeing  her  so 
unhappy,  I  wanted  to  seize  my  own  collar 
and  throttle  myself.  Grasping  her  hand,  I 
said  with  animation  :  — 

^'  Lillian,  LiUian,  you  did  not  understand  me. 
I  take  God  to  witness  that  no  pride  was  speak- 
ing through  me.  Look  at  me  :  I  have  nothing 
in  the  world  but  these  two  hands,  —  what  is  my 
descent  to  me?  Something  else  pained  me, 
and  4  wanted  to  go  away;  but  I  could  not 
support  your  tears.  And  I  swear  to  you  also, 
that  what  I  have  said  to  you  pains  me  more 
than  it  does  you.  You  are  not  an  object  of 
indifference  to  me,  Lillian.  Oh,  not, at  all! 
for  if  you  were,  what  you  think  of  Henry 
would  not  concern  me.  He  is  an  honest 
fellow,  but  that  does  not  touch  the  question. 
You  see  how  much  your  tears  cost  me ; 
then  forgive  me  as  sincerely  as  I  entreat  your 
forgiveness.'* 

Speaking  in  this  way  I  raised  her  hand  and 
pressed  it  to  my  lips ;  that  high  proof  of  re- 


LILLIAN  MORRIS. 


31 


spect,  and  the  truthfulness  which  sounded  in 
my  request,  succeeded  in  quieting  the  maiden 
somewhat.  She  did  not  cease  at  once  to 
weep,  but  her  tears  were  of  another  kind, 
for  a  smile  was  visible  through  them,  as  a 
sun-ray  through  mist.  Something  too  was 
sticking  in  my  throat,  and  I  could  not  stifle 
my  emotion.  A  certain  tender  feeling  mas- 
tered my  heart.  We  walked  on  in  silence, 
and  round  about  us  the  world  was  pleasant 
and  sweet. 

Meanwhile,  the  day  was  inclining  toward 
evening ;  the  weather  was  beautiful,  and  in 
the  air,  already  dusky,  there  was  so  much 
light  that  the  whole  prairie,  the  distant  groups 
of  cottonwood-trees,  the  wagons  in  our  train, 
and  the  flocks  of  wild  geese  flying  north- 
ward through  the  sky,  seemed  golden  and 
rosy.  Not  the  least  wind  moved  the  grass ; 
from  a  distance  came  to  us  the  sound  of 
rapids,  which  the  Cedar  River  formed  in  that 
place,  and   the  neighing  of  horses   from    the 


32  LILLIAN  MORRIS. 

direction  of  the  camp.  That  evening  with 
such  charms,  that  virgin  land,  and  the  pres- 
ence of  LilHan,  brought  me  to  such  a  state 
of  mind  that  my  soul  was  almost  ready  to  fly 
out  of  me  somewhere  to  the  sky.  I  thought 
myself  a  shaken  bell,  as  it  were.  At  moments 
I  wanted  to  take  Lillian's  hand  again,  raise  it 
to  my  lips,  and  not  put  it  down  for  a  long 
time ;  but  I  feared  lest  this  might  offend  her. 
Meanwhile  she  walked  on  near  me,  calm,  mild, 
and  thoughtful.  Her  tears  had  dried  already ; 
at  moments  she  raised  her  bright  eyes  to 
me ;  then  we  began  to  speak  again,  —  and 
so  reached  the  camp. 

That  day,  in  which  I  had  experienced  so 
many  emotions,  was  to  end  joyfully,  for  the 
people,  pleased  with  the  beautiful  weather, 
had  resolved  to  have  a  '-picnic,"  or  open  air 
festival.  After  a  supper  more  abundant  than 
usual,  one  great  fire  was  kindled,  before  which 
there  was  to  be  dancing.  Henry  Simpson  had 
cleared  away  the  grass  purposely  from  a  space 


LILLIAN  MORRIS.  33 

of  many  square  yards,  and  sprinkled  it  with 
sand  brought  from  Cedar  River.  When  the 
spectators  had  assembled  on  the  place  thus 
prepared,  Simpson  began  to  dance  a  jig,  with 
the  accompaniment  of  negro  flutes,  to  the 
admiration  of  all.  With  hands  hanging  at 
his  sides  he  kept  his  whole  body  motionless; 
but  his  feet  were  working  so  nimbly,  striking 
the  ground  in  turn  with  heel  and  toe,  that 
their  movement  could  hardly  be  followed  by 
the  eye. 

Meanwhile  the  flutes  played  madly;  a  sec- 
ond dancer  came  out,  a  third,  then  a  fourth,  — 
and  the  fun  was  universal.  The  audience  join- 
ed the  negroes  who  were  playing  on  the  flutes, 
and  thrummed  on  tin  pans,  intended  for  wash- 
ing the  gold-bearing  earth,  or  kept  time  with 
pieces  of  ox-ribs  held  between  the  fingers  of 
each  hand,  which  gave  out  a  sound  like  the 
clatter  of  castanets. 

Suddenly  the  cry  of  "  minstrels  !  minstrels  !  '* 
was  heard  through  the  whole  camp.  The  audi- 
3 


34 


LILLIAN  MORRIS. 


ence  formed  a  circle  around  the  dancing-place ; 
into  this  stepped  our  negroes,  Jim  and  Crow. 
Jim  held  a  little  drum  covered  with  snake- 
skin,  Crow  the  pieces  of  ox-rib  mentioned 
already.  For  a  time  they  stared  at  each  other, 
rolling  the  whites  of  their  eyes ;  then  they 
began  to  sing  a  negro  song,  interrupted  by 
stamping  and  violent  springs  of  the  body;  at 
times  the  song  was  sad,  at  times  wild.  The 
prolonged  '^  Dinah  !  ah  !  ah  !  "  with  which 
each  verse  ended,  changed  at  length  into  a 
shout,  and  almost  into  a  howling  like  that  of 
beasts.  As  the  dancers  warmed  up  and  grew 
excited,  their  movements  became  wilder,  and 
at  last  they  fell  to  butting  each  other  with 
blows  from  which  European  skulls  would  have 
cracked  like  nutshells.  Those  black  figures, 
shone  upon  by  the  bright  gleam  of  the  fire 
and  springing  in  wild  leaps,  presented  a  spec- 
tacle truly  fantastic.  With  their  shouts  and 
the  sounds  of  the  drum,  pipes,  and  tin  pans, 
and    the    chck    of    the    bones,    were    mingled 


LILLIAN  MORRIS.  35 

shouts  of  the  spectators  :  ''  Hurrah  for  Jim  ! 
Hurrah  for  Crow ! "  and  then  shots  from 
revolvers. 

When  at  last  the  black  men  were  wearied 
and  had  fallen  on  the  ground,  they  began  to 
labor  with  their  breasts  and  to  pant.  I  com- 
manded to  give  each  a  drink  of  brandy ;  this 
put  them  on  their  feet  again.  But  at  that 
moment  the  people  began  to  call  for  a 
''speech."  In  an  instant  the  uproar  and 
music  ceased.  I  had  to  drop  Lillian's  arm, 
climb  to  the  seat  of  a  wagon,  and  turn  to 
those  present.  When  I  looked  from  my 
height  on  those  forms  illuminated  by  the 
fires,  forms  large,  broad-shouldered,  bearded, 
with  knives  at  their  girdles,  and  hats  with  torn 
crowns,  it  seemed  to  me  that  I  was  in  some 
theatre,  or  had  become  a  chieftain  of  robbers. 
They  were  honest  brave  hearts,  however,  though 
the  rough  life  of  more  than  one  of  these  men 
was  stormy  perhaps  and  half  wild ;  but  here 
we  formed,  as  it  were,  a  little  world  torn  away 


36  LILLIAN  MORRIS, 

from  the  rest  of  society  and  confined  to 
ourselves,  destined  to  a  common  fate  and 
threatened  by  common  dangers.  Here  shoul- 
der had  to  touch  shoulder;  each  felt  that 
he  was  brother  to  the  next  man ;  the  roadless 
places  and  boundless  deserts  with  which  we 
were  surrounded  commanded  those  hardy 
miners  to  love  one  another.  The  sight  of 
Lillian,  the  poor  defenceless  maiden,  fearless 
among  them  and  safe  as  if  under  her  father's 
roof,  brought  those  thoughts  to  my  head ; 
hence  I  told  everything,  just  as  I  felt  it, 
and  as  befitted  a  soldier  leader  who  was  at 
the  same  time  a  brother  of  wanderers.  Every 
little  while  they  interrupted  me  with  cries : 
"  Hurrah  for  the  Pole  !  Hurrah  for  the  cap- 
tain !  Hurrah  for  Big  Ralph ! "  and  with 
clapping  of  hands ;  but  what  made  me  hap- 
piest of  all  was  to  see  between  the  net- 
work of  those  sunburnt  strong  hands  one 
pair  of  small  palms,  rosy  with  the  gleam  of 
the  fire  and  flying  like   a  pair  of  white  doves. 


LILLIAN  MORRIS.  37 

I  felt  then  at  once,  What  care  I  for  the 
desert,  the  wild  beasts,  the  Indians  and  the 
'^outlaws"?  and  cried  with  mighty  ardor, 
"  I  will  conquer  anything,  I  will  kill  anything 
that  comes  in  my  way,  and  lead  the  train  even 
to  the  end  of  the  earth,  —  and  may  God 
forget  my  right  hand,  if  this  is  not  true  !  ** 
A  still  louder  *'  Hurrah ! "  answered  these 
words,  and  all  began  to  sing  with  great  en- 
thusiasm the  emigrants'  song :  '*  I  crossed 
the  Mississippi,  I  will  cross  the  Missouri." 
Then  Smith,  the  oldest  among  the  emigrants, 
a  miner  from  near  Pittsburgh  in  Pennsylvania, 
spoke  in  answer.  He  thanked  me  in  the 
name  of  the  whole  company,  and  lauded  my 
skill  in  leading  the  caravan.  After  Smith, 
from  nearly  every  wagon  a  man  spoke.  Some 
made  very  amusing  remarks,  for  instance 
Henry  Simpson,  who  cried  out  every  little 
while  :  "  Gentlemen  !  I  '11  be  hanged  if  I 
don't  tell  the  truth  !  "  When  the  speakers 
had  grown  hoarse  at  last,   the  flutes  sounded, 


38  LILLIAN  MORRIS. 

the  bones  rattled,  and  the  men  began  to 
dance  a  jig  again. 

Night  had  fallen  completely ;  the  moon  came 
out  in  the  sky  and  shone  so  brightly  that  the 
flame  of  the  fires  almost  paled  before  its 
gleams;  the  people  and  the  wagons  were 
illuminated  doubly  by  a  red  and  a  white 
light.  That  was  a  beautiful  night.  The 
uproar  of  our  camp  offered  a  strange  but 
pleasing  contrast  to  the  calmness  and  deep 
slumber  of  the  prairie. 

Taking  Lillian's  arm,  I  went  with  her 
around  the  whole  camp ;  our  gaze  passed 
from  the  fires  to  the  distance,  and  was  lost 
in  the  waves  of  the  tall  and  dark  grasses  of 
the  prairie,  silvery  from  the  rays  of  the  moon 
and  as  mysterious  as  spirits.  We  strolled 
alone  in  that  way.  Meanwhile,  at  one  of  the 
fires,  two  Scottish  Highlanders  began  to  play 
on  pipes  their  plaintive  air  of  '^  Bonnie 
Dundee."  We  both  stopped  at  a  distance  and 
listened  for  some  time  in  silence ;  all  at  once 


LILLIAN  MORRIS. 


39 


I  looked  at  Lillian,  she  dropped  her  eyes,  — 
and  without  knowing  myself  why  I  did  so,  I 
pressed  to  my  heart  long  and  powerfully  that 
hand  which  she  had  rested  on  my  arm.  In 
Lillian  too  the  poor  heart  began  to  beat  with 
such  force  that  I  felt  it  as  clearly  as  if  on 
my  palm ;  we  trembled,  for  we  saw  that 
something  was  rising  between  us,  that  that 
something  was  conquering,  and  that  we  would 
not  be  to  each  other  as  we  had  been  hitherto. 
As  to  me  I  was  swimming  already  whitherso- 
ever that  current  was  bearing  me.  I  forgot  that 
the  night  was  so  bright,  that  the  fires  were  not 
distant,  and  that  there  were  people  around 
them  ;  and  I  wanted  to  fall  at  her  feet  at  once, 
or  at  least  to  look  into  her  eyes.  But  she, 
though  leaning  on  my  arm,  turned  her  head, 
as  if  glad  to  hide  her  face  in  the  shade.  I 
wished  to  speak  but  could  not ;  for  it  seemed 
to  me  that  I  should  call  out  with  some  voice 
not  my  own,  or  if  I  should  say  the  words 
"  I    love "    to    Lillian    I    should    drop    to     the 


40  LILLIAN  MORRIS. 

earth.  I  was  not  bold,  being  young  then, 
and  was  led  not  by  ray  thoughts  simply,  but 
by  my  soul  too ;  and  I  felt  this  also  clearly, 
that  if  I  should  say  ^^  I  love,"  a  curtain  would 
fall  on  my  past ;  one  door  would  close  and 
another  would  open,  through  which  I  should 
pass  into  a  certain  new  region.  Hence, 
though  I  saw  happiness  beyond  that  threshold 
I  halted,  for  this  very  reason  it  may  be,  —  that 
the  brightness  beating  from  out  that  place 
dazzled  me.  Besides,  when  loving  comes  not 
from  the  Hps,  but  the  heart,  there  is  perhaps 
nothing  so  difficult  to  speak  about. 

I  had  dared  to  press  Lillian's  hand  to  my 
breast;  we  were  silent,  for  I  had  not  the 
boldness  to  mention  love,  and  I  had  no  wish 
to  speak  of  aught  else,  —  it  was  impossible 
at  such  a  time. 

It  ended  with  this,  that  we  both  raised 
our  heads  and  looked  at  the  stars,  like  people 
who  are  praying.  Then  some  one  at  the 
great   fire   called  me ;    we   returned ;    the    fes- 


LILLIAN  MORRIS.  4 1 

tival  had  closed,  but  to  end  it  worthily  and 
well,  the  emigrants  had  determined  to  sing 
a  psalm  before  going  to  rest.  The  men  had 
uncovered  their  heads,  and  though  among 
them  were  persons  of  various  faiths,  all  knelt 
on  the  grass  of  the  prairie  and  began  to  sing 
the  psalm,  **  Wandering  in  the  Wilderness." 
The  sight  was  impressive.  At  moments  of 
rest  the  silence  became  so  perfect  that  the 
crackling  of  sparks  in  the  fire  could  be  heard, 
and  from  the  river  the  sound  of  the  waterfalls 
came  to  us. 

Kneeling  near  Lillian,  I  looked  once  or  twice 
at  her  face ;  her  eyes  were  uplifted  and  won- 
derfully shining,  her  hair  was  a '  little  disar- 
ranged ;  and,  singing  the  hymn  with  devotion, 
she  was  so  like  an  angel,  that  it  seemed  almost 
possible  to  pray  to  her. 

After  the  psalm,  the  people  went  to  their 
wagons.  I,  according  to  custom,  repaired  to 
the  sentries,  and  then  to  my  rest,  like  the  others. 
But  this  time  when  the  mosquitoes  began  to  sing 


42 


LILLIAN  MORRIS 


in  my  ears,  as  they  did  every  evening,  *'  Lillian  ! 
Lillian  !  Lillian  !  "  I  knew  that  in  that  wagon 
beyond  there  was  sleeping  the  sight  of  my  eye 
and  the  soul  of  my  soul,  and  that  in  all  the 
world  there  was  nothing  dearer  to  me  than 
that  maiden. 


pTBfKin 


k^/ 


At  dawn  the  following  day  we  passed  Cedar 
River  successfully  and  came  out  on  a  level, 
broad  prairie,  stretching  between  that  river  and 
the  Winnebago,  which  curved  imperceptibly 
to  the  south,  toward  the  belt  of  forests  lyinc: 
along  the  lower  boundary  of  Iowa.  From  the 
morning  Lillian  had  not  dared  to  look  in  my 
eyes.  I  saw  that  she  was  thoughtful ;  it 
seemed  as  though  she  were  ashamed  of  some- 
thing, or  troubled  for  some  cause ;  but  still 
what  sin  had  we    committed   the   evening  be- 


44  LILLIAN  MORRIS, 

fore?  She  scarcely  left  the  wagon.  Aunt 
Atkins  and  Aunt  Grosvenor,  thinking  that  she 
was  ill,  surrounded  her  with  care  and  tender- 
ness. I  alone  knew  what  that  meant,  —  that  it 
was  neither  weakness,  nor  pangs  of  conscience  ; 
it  was  the  struggle  of  an  innocent  being  with 
the  presentiment  that  a  power  new  and  unknown 
is  bearing  it,  like  a  leaf,  to  some  place  far 
away.  It  was  a  clear  insight  that  there  was 
no  help,  and  that  sooner  or  later  she  would 
have  to  weaken  and  yield  to  the  will  of  that 
power,  forget  everything,  —  and  only  love. 

A  pure  soul  draws  back  and  is  afraid  on  the 
threshold  of  love,  but  feeling  that  it  will  cross,  it 
weakens.  Lillian  therefore  was  as  if  wearied 
by  a  dream ;  but  when  I  understood  all  that, 
the  breath  in  my  breast  was  nearly  stopped  from 
joy.  I  know  not  whether  it  was  an  honorable 
feeling,  but  when  in  the  morning  I  flew  past  her 
wagon  and  saw  her,  broken  like  a  flower,  I  felt 
something  akin  to  what  a  bird  of  prey  feels, 
when  it  knows  that   the  dove  will  not  escape. 


LILLIAN  MORRIS.  45 

And  still  I  would  not  do  an  injustice  to  that 
dove  for  any  treasure  on  earth,  for  with  love  I 
had  in  my  heart  at  the  same  time  an  immense 
compassion.  A  wonderful  thing  however  :  not- 
withstanding my  feeling  for  Lillian,  the  whole 
day  passed  for  us  as  if  in  mutual  offence,  or  at 
least  in  perplexity.  I  was  racking  my  head  to 
discover  how  I  could  be  alone  even  for  a  mo- 
ment with  her,  but  could  not  discover.  Fortu- 
nately Aunt  Atkins  came  to  my  aid  ;  she  declared 
that  the  little  one  needed  more  exercise,  that 
confinement  in  the  stifling  wagon  was  injuring 
her  health.  I  fell  upon  the  thought  that  she 
ought  to  ride  on  horseback,  and  ordered 
Simpson  to  saddle  a  horse  for  her ;  and  though 
there  were  no  side-saddles  in  the  train,  one  of 
those  Mexican  saddles  with  a  high  pommel 
which  women  use  everywhere  on  the  frontier 
prairies,  could  serve  her  very  well.  I  forbade 
Lillian  to  loiter  behind  far  enough  to  drop  out 
of  view.  To  be  lost  in  the  open  prairie  was 
rather  difficult,  because  people,   whom   I   sent 


46  LILLIAN  MORRIS, 

out  for  game,  circled  about  a  considerable 
distance  in  every  direction.  There  was  no 
danger  from  the  Indians,  for  that  part  of  the 
prairie,  as  far  as  the  Winnebago,  was  visited  by 
the  Pawnees  only  during  the  great  hunts,  which 
had  not  begun  yet.  But  the  southern  forest- 
tract  abounded  in  wild  beasts,  not  all  of  which 
were  grass  eating;  wariness,  therefore,  was  far 
from  superfluous. 

To  tell  the  truth  I  thought  that  Lillian 
would  keep  near  me  for  safety ;  this  would  per- 
mit us  to  be  alone  rather  frequently.  Usually 
I  pushed  forward  in  time  of  march  some  dis- 
tance, having  before  me  only  the  two  half- 
breed  scouts,  and  behind  the  whole  caravan. 
So  it  happened  in  fact,  and  I  was  at  once  inex- 
pressibly and  truly  happy,  the  first  day,  when  I 
saw  my  sweet  Amazon  moving  forward  at  a 
light  gallop  from  the  direction  of  the  train. 
The  movement  of  the  horse  unwound  her 
tresses  somewhat,  and  care  for  her  skirt,  which 
was   the  least  trifle   short  for  the  saddle,  had 


LILLIAN  MORRIS.  47 

painted  her  face  with  a  charming  anxiety.  When 
she  came  up  she  was  like  a  rose ;  for  she  knew 
that  she  was  going  into  a  trap  laid  by  me  so  that 
we  might  be  alone  with  each  other,  and  knowing 
this  she  came,  though  blushing,  and  as  if  un- 
willing, feigning  that  she  knew  nothing.  My 
heart  beat  as  if  I  had  been  a  young  student ; 
and,  when  our  horses  were  abreast,  I  was  angry 
with  myself,  because  I  knew  not  what  to  say. 
At  the  same  time  such  sweet  and  powerful  de- 
sires began  to  go  between  us,  that  I,  urged  by 
some  unseen  power,  bent  toward  Lillian  as  if  to 
straighten  something  in  the  mane  of  her  horse, 
and  meanwhile  I  pressed  my  lips  to  her  hand, 
which  was  resting  on  the  pommel  of  the  saddle. 
A  certain  unknown  and  unspeakable  happiness, 
greater  and  keener  than  all  delights  that  I  had 
known  in  life  till  that  moment,  passed  through 
my  bones.  I  pressed  that  little  hand  to  my 
heart  and  began  to  tell  Lillian,  that  if  God  had 
bestowed  all  the  kingdoms  of  the  earth  on  me, 
and  all  the  treasures  in  existence,  1  would  not 


48  LILLIAN  MORRIS. 

give  for  anything  one  tress  of  her  hair,  for  she 
had  taken  me  soul  and  body  forever. 

''  Lillian,  Lillian,"  said  I  further,  ''  I  will 
never  leave  you.  I  will  follow  you  through 
mountains  and  deserts,  I  will  kiss  your  feet  and 
I  will  pray  to  you ;  only  love  me  a  Httle,  only 
tell  me  that  in  your  heart  I  mean  something." 

Thus  speaking,  I  thought  that  my  bosom 
would  burst,  when  she,  with  the  greatest  con- 
fusion, began  to  repeat,  — 

'^  O  Ralph !  you  know  well !  you  know 
everything  !  " 

I  did  not  know  just  this,  whether  to  laugh  or 
to  cry,  whether  to  run  away  or  to  remain ;  and, 
as  I  hope  for  salvation  to-day,  I  felt  saved 
then,  for  nothing  in  the  world  was  lacking 
to   me. 

Thenceforth  so  far  as  my  occupations  per- 
mitted, we  were  always  together.  And  those 
occupations  decreased  every  day  till  we 
reached  the  Missouri.  Perhaps  no  caravan 
had  more   success  than  ours    during  the    first 


LILLIAN  MORRIS. 


49 


month  of  the  journey.  Men  and  animals  were 
growing  accustomed  to  order  and  skilled  in 
travelling;  hence  I  had  less  need  to  look 
after  them,  while  the  confidence  which  the 
people  gave  me  upheld  perfect  order  in  the 
train.  Besides,  abundance  of  provisions  and 
the  fine  spring  weather  roused  joyfulness  and 
increased  good  health.  I  convinced  myself 
daily,  that  my  bold  plan  of  conducting  the 
caravan  not  by  the  usual  route  through 
St.  Louis  and  Kansas,  but  through  Iowa  and 
Nebraska,  was  best.  There  heat  almost  un- 
endurable tortured  people,  and  in  the  un- 
healthy region  between  the  Mississippi  and 
Missouri  fevers  and  other  diseases  thinned 
the  ranks  of  emigrants ;  here,  by  reason  of 
the  cooler  climate,  cases  of  weakness  were 
fewer,  and  our  labor  was  less. 

It  is  true  that  the  road  by  St.  Louis  was  in 

the  earlier  part  of  it  freer  from  Indians  ;  but  my 

train,  composed  of  two  or  three  hundred  men 

well  furnished  with  weapons  and  ready  for  fight- 

4 


50  LILLIAN  MORRIS, 

ing,  had  no  cause  to  fear  wild  tribes,  especially 
those  inhabiting  Iowa,  who  though  meeting 
white  men  oftener,  and,  having  more  frequent 
experience  of  what  their  hands  could  do,  had 
not  the  courage  to  rush  at  large  parties.  It 
was  only  needful  to  guard  against  stampedes,  or 
night  attacks  on  mules  and  horses,  —  the  loss 
of  draught- animals  puts  a  caravan  on  the  prai- 
ries in  a  terrible  position.  But  against  that  there 
was  dihgence  and  the  experience  of  sentries  who, 
for  the  greater  part,  were  as  well  acquainted 
with  the  stratagems  of  Indians  as  I  was. 

When  once  I  had  introduced  travelling  disci- 
pline and  made  men  accustomed  to  it,  I  had 
incomparably  less  to  do  during  the  day,  and 
could  devote  more  time  to  the  feehngs  which 
had  seized  my  heart.  In  the  evening  I  went 
to  sleep  with  the  thought :  "  To-morrow  I 
shall  see  Lillian ;  "  in  the  morning  I  said  to 
myself:  ''  To-day  I  shall  see  Lillian  ;  "  and  every 
day  I  was  happier  and  every  day  more  in  love. 
In  the   caravan   people   began    by  degrees    to 


LILLIAN  MORRIS.  5  I 

notice  this ;  but  no  one  took  it  ill  of  me,  for 
Lillian  and  I  possessed  the  good-will  of  those 
people.  Once  old  Smith  said  in  passing  :  '*  God 
bless  you,  captain,  and  you,  Lillian."  That 
connecting  of  our  names  made  us  happy  all 
day.  Aunt  Grosvenor  and  Aunt  Atkins  whis- 
pered something  frequently  in  Lillian's  ear, 
which  made  her  blush  like  the  dawn,  but  she 
would  never  tell  me  what  it  was.  Henry 
Simpson  looked  on  us  rather  gloomily,  —  per- 
haps he  was  forging  some  plan  in  his  soul,  but  I 
paid  no  heed  to  that. 

Every  morning  at  four  I  was  at  the  head 
of  the  caravan ;  before  me  the  scouts,  some 
fifteen  hundred  yards  distant,  sang  songs, 
which  their  Indian  mothers  had  taught  them ; 
behind  me  at  the  same  distance  moved  the 
caravan,  like  a  white  ribbon  on  the  prairie, — 
and  what  a  wonderful  moment,  when,  about 
two  hours  later,  I  hear  on  a  sudden  behind  me 
the  tramp  of  a  horse.  I  look,  and  behold  the 
sight  of  my  soul,   my  beloved   is  approaching. 


52  LILLIAN  MORRIS. 

The  morning  breeze  bears  behind  her  ber  hair, 
which  either  had  been  loosened  from  the 
movement,  or  badly  fastened  on  purpose,  for 
the  little  rogue  knew  that  she  looked  better  that 
way,  that  I  liked  her  that  way,  and  that  when 
the  wind  threw  the  tress  on  me  I  pressed  it  to 
my  lips.  I  feign  not  to  notice  her  tricks,  and 
in  this  agreeable  meeting  the  morning  begins 
for  us.  1  taught  her  the  Polish  phrase  :  ^'  Dzien 
dobry"  (good  morning).  When  I  heard  her 
pronouncing  those  words,  she  seemed  still 
dearer;  the  memory  of  my  country,  of  my 
family,  of  years  gone  by,  of  that  which  had  been, 
of  that  which  had  passed,  flew  before  my  eyes 
on  that  prairie  like  mews  of  the  ocean.  More 
than  once  I  would  have  broken  out  in  weeping, 
but  from  shame  I  restrained  with  my  eyelids 
the  tears  that  wxre  ready  to  flow.  She,  seeing 
that  the  heart  was  melting  in  me,  repeated  like 
a  trained  starling  :  ''  Dzien  dobry  !  dzien  dobry  ! 
dzien  dobry  !  "  And  how  was  I  not  to  love  my 
starling  beyond  everything?     I  taught  her  then 


LILLIAN  MORRIS.  53 

Other  phrases ;  and  when  her  hps  struggled 
with  our  difficult  sounds,  and  I  laughed  at  a 
faulty  pronunciation,  she  pouted  like  a  little 
child,  feigning  anger  and  resentment.  But  we 
had  no  quarrels,  and  once  only  a  cloud  flew 
between  us.  One  morning  I  pretended  to 
tighten  a  strap  on  her  stirrup,  but  in  truth  the 
leopard  Uhlan  was  roused  in  me,  and  I  began  to 
kiss  her  foot,  or  rather  the  poor  shoe  worn  out 
in  the  wilderness.  Then  she  drew  her  foot 
close  to  the  horse,  and  repeating  :  "  No,  Ralph  ! 
no  !  no  !  "  sprang  to  one  side ;  and  though  I 
implored  and  strove  to  pacify  her  she  would 
not  come  near  me.  She  did  not  return  to 
the  caravan,  however,  fearing  to  pain  me  too 
much.  I  feigned  a  sorrow  a  hundred  times 
greater  than  I  felt  in  reality,  and  sinking  into 
silence,  rode  on  as  if  all  things  had  ended  on 
earth  for  me.  I  knevv  that  compassion  would 
stir  in  her,  as  indeed  it  did;  for  soon,  alarmed 
at  my  silence,  she  began  to  ride  up  at  one  side 
and  look  at  my  eyes,  like  a  child  which  wants 


54  Lillian  morris. 

to  know  if  its  mother  is  angry  yet,  —  and  I, 
wishing  to  preserve  a  gloomy  visage,  had  to  turn 
aside  to  avoid  laughing  aloud. 

But  this  was  one  time  only.  Usually  we  were 
as  gladsome  as  prairie  squirrels,  and  sometimes, 
God  forgive  me,  I,  the  leader  of  that  caravan, 
became  a  child  with  her.  More  than  once 
when  we  were  riding  side  by  side  I  would  turn 
on  a  sudden,  saying  to  her  that  I  had  something 
important  and  new  to  tell,  and  when  she  held 
her  inquisitive  ear  I  whispered  into  it :  "I 
love."  Then  she  also  whispered  into  my  ear  in 
answer,  with  a  smile  and  blush,  "  I  also  !  "  And 
thus  we  confided  our  secrets  to  each  other  on 
the  prairie,  where  the  wind  alone  could  over- 
hear us. 

In  this  manner  day  shot  after  day  so  quickly, 
that,  as  I  thought,  the  morning  seemed  to  touch 
the  evening  like  links  in  a  chain.  At  times 
some  event  of  the  journey  would  vary  such 
pleasant  monotony.  A  certain  Sunday  the  half- 
breed  Wichita  caught  with  a  lasso  an  antelope 


LILLIAN  MORRIS.  55 

of  a  large  kind,  and  with  her  a  fawn  which  I 
gave  to  LiUian,  who  made  for  it  a  collar  on  which 
was  put  a  bell,  taken  from  a  mule.  This  fawn 
we  called  Katty.  In  a  week  it  was  tame,  and  ate 
from  our  hands.  During  the  march  I  would 
ride  on  one  side  of  Lillian,  and  Katty  would 
run  on  the  other,  raising  its  great  black  eyes 
and  begging  with  a  bleat  for  caresses. 

Beyond  the  Winnebago  we  came  out  on  a 
plain  as  level  as  a  table,  broad,  rich,  primeval. 
The  scouts  vanished  from  our  eyes  at  times  in 
the  grass  ;  our  horses  waded,  as  if  in  a  river.  I 
showed  Lillian  that  world  altogether  new  to  her, 
and  when  she  was  delighted  with  its  beauties,  I 
felt  proud  that  that  kingdom  of  mine  was  so 
pleasing  to  her.  It  was  spring,  —  April  was 
barely  reaching  its  end,  the  time  of  richest 
growth  for  grasses  of  all  sorts.  What  was  to 
bloom  on  the  plains  was  blooming  already. 

In  the  evening  such  intoxicating  odors  came 
from  the  prairie,  as  from  a  thousand  censers ; 
in  the  day,  when  the  wind  blew  and  shook  the 


5 6  LILLIAN  MORRIS. 

flowery  expanse,  the  eye  was  just  pained  with 
the  gUtter  of  red,  blue,  yellow,  and  colors  of 
all  kinds.  From  the  dense  bed  shot  up  the 
slender  stalks  of  yellow  flowers,  like  our  mul- 
lein; around  these  wound  the  silver  threads 
of  a  plant  called  ''  tears,"  whose  clusters,  com- 
posed of  transparent  little  balls,  are  really  like 
tears.  My  eyes,  used  to  reading  in  the  prairie, 
discovered  repeatedly  plants  that  I  knew :  now 
it  was  the  large-leaved  kalumna,  which  cures 
wounds ;  now  the  plant  called  **  white  and  red 
stockings,"  which  closes  its  cups  at  the  ap- 
proach of  man  or  beast ;  finally,  ^'  Indian  hat- 
chets," the  odor  of  which  brings  sleep  and 
almost  takes  away  consciousness.  I  taught 
Lillian  at  that  time  to  read  in  this  Divine 
book,   saying, — 

"  It  will  come  to  you  to  live  in  forests  and 
on  plains ;  it  is  well  then  to  know  them  in 
season.*' 

In  places  on  the  level  prairie  rose,  as  if  they 
were  oases,  groups  of  cottonwood  or  alder,  so 


LILLIAN  MORRIS.  57 

wreathed  with  wild  grapes  and  lianas  that  they 
could  not  be  recognized  under  the  tendrils  and 
leaves.  On  the  lianas  in  turn  climbed  ivy 
and  the  prickly,  thorny  "  wachtia,"  resembling 
wild  roses.  Flowers  were  just  dropping  at  all 
points;  inside,  underneath  that  screen  and 
beyond  that  wall,  was  a  certain  mysterious 
gloom ;  at  the  tree  trunks  were  sleeping  great 
pools  of  water  of  the  spring-time,  which  the 
sun  was  unable  to  drink  up ;  from  the  tree- 
tops  and  among  the  brocade  of  flowers  came 
wonderful  voices  and  the  calling  of  birds. 
When  for  the  first  time  I  showed  such  trees 
to  Lillian  and  such  hanging  cascades  of  flow- 
ers, she  stood  as  if  fixed  to  the  earth,  repeat- 
ing with  clasped  hands,  — 

*'0h,  Ralph!  is  that  real?" 

She  said  that  she  was  a  little  afraid  to  enter 
such  a  depth;  but  one  afternoon,  when  the 
heat  was  great,  and  over  the  prairie  was  flying, 
as  it  were,  the  hot  breath  of  the  Texan  wind, 
we  rode  in,  and  Katty  came  after  us. 


58  LILLIAN  MORRIS. 

We  Stopped  at  a  little  pool,  which  reflected 
our  two  horses  and  our  two  forms ;  we  re- 
mained in  silence  for  a  time.  It  was  cool 
there,  obscure,  solemn  as  in  a  Gothic  cathe- 
dral, and  somewhat  awe-inspiring.  The  light 
of  day  came  in  bedimmed,  greenish  from  the 
leaves.  Some  bird,  hidden  under  the  cupola 
of  lianas,  cried,  *'No  !  no  !  no  !  "  as  if  warn- 
ing us  not  to  go  farther;  Katty  began  to 
tremble  and  nestle  up  to  the  horses;  Lillian 
and  I  looked  at  each  other  suddenly,  and  for 
the  first  time  our  lips  met,  and  having  met 
could  not  separate.  She  drank  my  soul,  I 
drank  her  soul.  Breath  began  to  fail  each 
of  us,  still  lips  were  on  lips.  At  last  her  eyes 
were  covered  with  mist,  and  the  hands  which 
she  had  placed  on  my  shoulders  were  trembling 
as  in  a  fever :  she  was  seized  with  a  kind  of 
oblivion  of  her  own  existence,  so  that  she  grew 
faint  and  placed  her  head  on  my  bosom.  We 
were  drunk  with  each  other,  with  bliss,  and 
with  ecstasy.     I  dared  not  move ;  but  because 


LILLIAN  MORRIS.  59. 

I  had  a  soul  overfilled,  because  I  loved  a  hun- 
dred times  more  than  may  be  thought  or  ex- 
pressed, I  raised  my  eyes  to  discover  if  through 
the  thick  leaves  I  could  see  the  sky. 

Recovering  our  senses,  we  came  out  at  last 
from  beneath  the  green  density  to  the  open 
prairie,  where  we  were  surrounded  by  the 
bright  sunshine  and  warm  breeze ;  before  us 
was  spread  the  broad  and  gladsome  landscape. 
Prairie  chickens  were  fluttering  in  the  grass, 
and  on  slight  elevations,  which  were  perforated 
like  a  sieve  by  prairie  dogs,  stood,  as  it  were, 
an  army  of  those  little  creatures,  which  van- 
ished under  the  earth  at  our  coming ;  directly 
in  front  was  the  caravan,  and  horsemen  career- 
ing around  it. 

It  seemed  to  me  that  we  had  come  out  of 
a  dark  chamber  to  the  white  world,  and  the 
same  thought  must  have  come  to  Lillian.  The 
brightness  of  the  day  rejoiced  me ;  but  that 
excess  of  golden  light  and  the  memory  of  rap- 
turous kisses,  traces  of  which  were  still  evident 


6o  LILLIAN  MORRIS. 

on  her  face,  penetrated  Lillian  as  it  were  with 
alarm  and  with  sadness. 

"Ralph,  will  you  not  take  that  ill  of  me?" 
asked  she,  on  a  sudden. 

'*  What  comes  to  your  head,  O  my  own  ! 
God  forget  me  if  in  my  heart  there  is  any  feel- 
ing but  respect  and  the  highest  love  for  you/' 

"I  did  that  because  I  love  greatly,"  said  she; 
and  therewith  her  lips  began  to  quiver  and 
she  wept  in  silence,  and  though  I  was  working 
the  soul  out  of  myself  she  remained  sad  all  that 
day. 


At  last  we  came  to  the  Missouri.  Indians 
chose  generally  the  time  of  crossing  that  river 
to  fall  upon  caravans ;  defence  is  most  difificult 
when  some  wagons  are  on  one  bank,  and 
some  in  the  river ;  when  the  draught-beasts  are 
stubborn  and  balky,  and  disorder  rises  among 
the  people.  Indeed,  I  noticed,  before  our 
arrival  at  the  river,  that  Indian  spies  had  for 
two  days  been  following  us ;  I  took  every  pre- 
caution therefore,  and  led  the  train  in  complete 
military  order.      I   did  not  permit  wagons  to 


62  LILLIAN  MORRIS. 

loiter  on  the  prairie,  as  in  the  eastern  districts 
of  Iowa ;  the  men  had  to  stay  together  and  be 
in  perfect  readiness  for  battle. 

When  we  had  come  to  the  bank  and  found 
a  ford,  I  ordered  two  divisions,  of  sixty  men 
each,  to  intrench  themselves  on  both  banks, 
so  as  to  secure  the  passage  under  cover 
of  small  forts  and  the  muzzles  of  rifles.  The 
remaining  hundred  and  twenty  emigrants  had 
to  take  the  train  over.  I  did  not  send  in 
more  than  a  few  wagons  at  once,  so  as  to  avoid 
confusion.  With  such  an  arrangement  every- 
thing took  place  in  the  greatest  order,  and 
attack  became  impossible,  for  the  attackers 
would  have  had  to  carry  one  or  the  other 
intrenchment  before  they  could  fall  upon  those 
who  were  crossing  the  river. 

How  far  these  precautions  were  not  super- 
fluous the  future  made  evident,  for  two  years 
later  four  hundred  Germans  were  cut  to  pieces 
by  the  Kiowas,  at  the  place  where  Omaha 
stands    at   this    moment.      I    had    this    advan- 


LILLIAN  MORRIS.  63 

tage  besides :  my  men/  who  previously  had 
heard  more  than  once  narratives,  which  went 
to  the  East,  of  the  terrible  danger  of  cross- 
ing the  yellow  waters  of  the  Missouri,  see- 
ing the  firmness  and  ease  with  which  I  had 
solved  the  problem,  gained  blind  confidence, 
and  began  to  look  on  me  as  some  ruling 
spirit  of  the  plains. 

Daily  did  those  praises  and  that  enthusiasm 
reach  Lillian,  in  whose  loving  eyes  I  grew  to  be 
a  legendary  hero.  Aunt  Atkins  said  to  her : 
"  While  your  Pole  is  with  you,  you  may  sleep 
out  in  the  rain,  for  he  won't  let  the  drops  fall 
on  you."  And  the  heart  rose  in  my  maiden 
from  those  praises.  During  the  whole  time  of 
crossing  I  could  give  her  hardly  a  moment, 
and  could  only  say  hurriedly  with  my  eyes 
what  my  lips  could  not  utter.  All  day  I  was 
on  horseback,  now  on  one  bank,  now  on  the 
other,  now  in  the  water.  I  was  in  a  hurry  to 
advance  as  soon  as  possible  from  those  thick 
yellow  waters,  which  were  bearing  down  with 


64  LILLIAN  MORRIS. 

them  rotten  trees,  bunches  of  leaves,  grass,  and 
malodorous  mud  from  Dakota,  infectious  with 
fever. 

Besides  this,  the  people  were  wearied  im- 
mensely, from  continual  watching ;  the  horses 
grew  sick  from  unwholesome  water,  which  we 
could  not  use  until  we  had  kept  it  in  charcoal 
a  number  of  hours. 

At  last,  after  eight  days'  time,  we  found  our- 
selves on  the  right  bank  of  the  river  without 
having  broken  a  wagon,  and  with  the  loss  of 
only  seven  head  of  mules  and  horses.  That 
day,  however,  the  first  arrows  fell,  for  my  men 
killed,  and  afterward,  according  to  the  repul- 
sive habit  of  the  plains,  scalped  three  Indians, 
who  had  been  trying  to  push  in  among  the 
mules.  In  consequence  of  this  deed  an  embassy 
of  six  leading  warriors  of  the  Bloody  Tracks, 
belonging  to  the  Pawnee  stock,  visited  us  on 
the  following  day.  They  sat  down  at  our  fire 
with  tremendous  importance,  demanding  horses 
and  mules  in  return  for  the  dead  men,  declar- 


LILLIAN  MORRIS.  65 

ing  that,  in  case  of  refusal,  five  hundred  warriors 
would  attack  us  immediately.  I  made  no  great 
account  of  those  five  hundred  warriors,  since  I 
had  the  train  in  order  and  defended  with  in- 
trenchments.  I  saw  well  that  that  embassy  had 
been  sent  merely  because  those  wild  people  had 
caught  at  the  first  opportunity  to  extort  some- 
thing without  an  attack,  in  the  success  of  which 
they  had  lost  faith.  I  should  have  driven  them 
away  in  one  moment,  had  I  not  wished  to 
exhibit  them  to  Lillian.  In  fact,  while  they  were 
sitting  at  the  council-fire  motionless,  with  eyes 
fixed  on  the  flame,  she,  concealed  in  the  wagon, 
was  looking  with  alarm  and  curiosity  at  their 
dress  trimmed  at  the  seams  with  human  hair, 
their  tomahawks  adorned  with  feathers  on  the 
handles,  and  at  their  faces  painted  black  and 
red,  which  meant  war.  In  spite  of  these  pre- 
parations, however,  I  refused  their  demand 
sharply,  and,  passing  from  a  defensive  to  an 
offensive  role,  declared  that  if  even  one  mule 
disappeared  from  the  train,  I  would  go  to  their 
S 


66  LILLIAN  MORRIS. 

tribe  myself  and  scatter  the  bones  of  their  five 
hundred  warriors  over  the  prairie. 

They  went  away,  repressing  their  rage  with 
difficulty,  but  when  going  they  brandished  their 
tomahawks  over  their  heads  in  sign  of  war. 
However,  my  words  sank  in  their  memory ;  for 
at  the  time  of  their  departure  two  hundred  of 
my  men,  prepared  purposely,  rose  up  with 
threatening  aspect,  rattling  their  weapons,  and 
gave  forth  a  shout  of  battle.  That  readiness 
made  a  deep  irhpression  on  the  wild  warriors. 

Some  hours  later  Henry  Simpson,  who  at  his 
own  instance  had  gone  out  to  observe  the 
embassy,  returned,  all  panting,  with  news  that 
a  considerable  division  of  Indians  was  approach- 
ing us. 

I,  knowing  Indian  ways  perfectly,  knew  that 
those  were  mere  threats,  for  the  Indians,  armed 
with  bows  made  of  hickory,  were  not  in  num- 
bers sufficient  to  meet  Kentucky  rifles  of  long 
range.  I  said  that  to  Lillian,  wishing  to  quiet 
her,  for  she  was  trembling  like  a  leaf;  but  all 


LILLIAN  MORRIS.  67 

the  Others  were  sure  that  a  battle  was  coming ; 
the  younger  ones,  whose  warUke  spirit  was 
roused,  wished  for  it  eagerly. 

In  fact,  we  heard  the  howling  of  the  red- 
skins soon  after ;  still,  they  kept  at  the  distance 
of  some  gun-shots,  as  if  seeking  a  favorable 
moment. 

In  our  camp  immense  fires,  replenished  with 
Cottonwood  and  willows,  were  burning  all  night ; 
the  men  stood  guard  around  the  wagons ;  the 
women  were  singing  psalms  from  fear ;  the 
mules,  not  driven  out  as  usual  to  the  night 
pasture,  but  confined  behind  the  wagons,  were 
braying  and  biting  one  another ;  the  dogs,  feel- 
ing the  nearness  of  the  Indians,  were  howhng, 
—  in  a  word,  it  was  noisy  and  threatening 
throughout  the  camp.  In  brief  moments  of 
silence  we  heard  the  mournful  and  ominous 
howling  of  the  Indian  outposts,  calling  with  the 
voices  of  coyotes. 

About  midnight  the  Indians  tried  to  set  fire 
to  the   prairie,  but  the  damp   grass  of  spring 


68  LILLIAN  MORRIS 

would  not  burn,  though  for  some  days  not  a  rain- 
drop had  fallen  on  that  region. 

When  riding  around  the  camp-ground  before 
daybreak  I  had  a  chance  of  seeing  Lillian  for  a 
moment.  I  found  her  sleeping  from  weariness, 
with  her  head  resting  on  the  knees  of  Aunt 
Atkins,  who,  armed  with  a  bowie-knife,  had 
sworn  to  destroy  the  whole  tribe,  if  one  of  them 
dared  to  come  near  her  darling.  As  to  me,  I 
looked  on  that  fair  sleeping  face  with  the  love 
not  only  of  a  man,  but  almost  of  a  mother,  and 
I  felt  equally  with  Aunt  Atkins  that  I  would 
tear  into  pieces  any  one  who  would  threaten  my 
beloved.  In  her  was  my  joy,  in  her  my  dehght ; 
beyond  her  I  had  nothing  but  endless  wander- 
ing, tramping,  and  mishaps.  Before  my  eyes 
I  had  the  best  proof  of  this :  in  the  distance 
were  the  prairie,  the  rattle  of  weapons,  the 
night  on  horseback,  the  struggle  with  predatory 
redskin  murderers ;  nearer,  right  there  before 
my  face,  was  the  quiet  sleep  of  that  dear  one, 
so  full  of  faith  and  trust  in  me,  that  my  word 


LILLIAN  MORRIS.  69 

alone  had  convinced  her  that  there  could  be 
no  attack,  and  she  had  fallen  asleep  as  full  of 
confidence  as  if  under  her  father's  roof. 

When  I  looked  at  those  two  pictures,  I  felt 
for  the  first  time  how  that  adventurous  life 
without  a  morrow  had  wearied  me,  and  I  saw 
at  once  that  I  should  find  rest  and  satisfaction 
with  her  alone.  "  If  only  to  California ! " 
thought  I,  "  if  only  to  California !  But  the 
toils  of  the  journey —  merely  one- half  of  which, 
and  that  half  the  easiest,  is  over  —  are  evident 
already  on  that  pallid  face ;  but  a  beautiful  rich 
country  is  waiting  for  us  there,  with  its  warm 
sky  and  eternal  spring."  Thus  meditating,  I 
covered  the  feet  of  the  sleeper  with  my  buffalo- 
robe,  so  that  the  night  cold  might  not  harm 
her,  and  returned  to  the  end  of  the  camp. 

It  was  time,  for  a  thick  mist  had  begun  to  rise 
from  the  river ;  the  Indians  might  really  take 
advantage  of  it  and  try  their  fortune.  The  fires 
were  dimmed  more  and  more,  and  grew  pale. 
An  hour  later  one  man  could  not  see  another  if 


70  LILLIAN  MORRIS. 

ten  paces  distant.  I  gave  command  then  to  cry 
on  the  square  every  minute,  and  soon  nothing 
was  heard  in  that  camp  but  the  prolonged 
'^ All's  well!"  which  passed  from  mouth  to 
mouth  Hke  the  words  of  a  litany. 

But  the  Indian  camp  had  grown  perfectly 
still,  as  if  its  occupants  were  dumb.  This  be- 
gan to  alarm  me.  At  the  first  dawn  an  immense 
weariness  mastered  us ;  God  knows  how  many 
nights  the  majority  of  the  men  had  passed 
without  sleep,  —  besides,  the  fog,  wonderfully 
penetrating,  sent  a  chill  and  a  shiver  through 
all. 

Would  it  not  be  better,  thought  I,  instead  of 
standing  on  one  place  and  waiting  for  what  may 
please  the  Indians,  to  attack  and  scatter  them 
to  the  four  winds?  This  was  not  simply  the 
whim  of  an  Uhlan,  but  an  absolute  need ;  for  a 
daring  and  lucky  attack  might  gain  us  great 
glory,  which,  spreading  among  the  wild  tribes, 
would  give  us  safety  for  a  long  stretch  of  road. 

Leaving  behind  me  one  hundred  and  thirty 


LILLIAN  MORRIS.  7 1 

men,  under  the  lead  of  the  old  prairie  wolf, 
Smith,  I  commanded  a  hundred  others  to  mount 
their  horses,  and  we  moved  forward  somewhat 
cautiously,  but  gladly,  for  the  cold  had  become 
more  annoying,  and  in  this  way  it  was  possible  to 
warm  ourselves  at  least.  At  twice  the  distance 
of  a  gunshot  we  raced  forward  at  a  gallop  with 
shouting,  and  in  the  midst  of  a  musket- fire 
rushed,  like  a  storm,  on  the  savages.  A  ball, 
sent  from  our  side  by  some  awkward  marks- 
man, whistled  right  at  my  ear,  but  only  tore 
my  cap. 

Meanwhile,  we  were  on  the  necks  of  the 
Indians,  who  expected  anything  rather  than  an 
attack,  for  this  was  surely  the  first  time  that 
emigrants  had  charged  the  besiegers.  Great 
alarm  so  blinded  them,  therefore,  that  they  fled 
in  every  direction,  howling  from  fright  like  wild 
beasts,  and  perishing  without  resistance.  A 
smaller  division  of  these  people,  pushed  to  the 
river  and,  deprived  of  retreat,  defended  them- 
selves   so    sternly    and    stubbornly    that    they 


72  LILLIAN  MORRIS. 

chose  to  rush  into  the  water  rather  than  beg 
for  Hfe. 

Their  spears  pointed  with  sharpened  deer- 
horns  and  tomahawks  made  of  hard  flint  were 
not  very  dangerous,  but  they  used  them  with 
wonderful  skill.  We  burst  through  these,  how- 
ever, in  the  twinkling  of  an  eye.  I  took  one 
prisoner,  a  sturdy  rascal,  whose  hatchet  and 
arm  I  broke  in  the  moment  of  fighting  with 
hatchets. 

We  seized  a  few  tens  of  horses,  but  so  wild 
and  vicious  that  there  was  no  use  in  them.  We 
made  a  few  prisoners,  all  wounded.  I  gave  com- 
mand to  care  for  these  most  attentively,  and  set 
them  free  afterward  at  Lillian*s  request,  having 
given  them  blankets,  arms,  and  horses,  neces- 
sary for  men  seriously  wounded.  These  poor 
fellows,  believing  that  we  would  tie  them  to 
stakes  for  torture,  had  begun  to  chant  their 
monotonous  death-songs,  and  were  simply  terri- 
fied at  first  by  what  had  happened.  They 
thought    that  we  would   liberate  only  to  hunt 


LILLIAN  MORRIS.  73 

them  in  Indian  fashion;  but  seeing  that  no 
danger  threatened,  they  went  away,  exalting  our 
bravery  and  the  goodness  of  **  Pale  Flower," 
which  name  they  had  given  Lillian. 

That  day  ended,  however,  with  a  sad  event, 
which  cast  a  shade  on  our  delight  at  such  a  con- 
siderable victory,  and  its  foreseen  results.  Among 
my  men  there  were  none  killed;  a  number, 
nevertheless,  had  received  wounds  more  or  less 
serious;  the  most  grievously  wounded  was 
Henry  Simpson,  whose  eagerness  had  borne 
him  away  during  battle.  In  the  evening  his 
condition  grew  so  much  worse,  that  he  was 
dying ;  he  wished  to  make  some  confession  to 
me,  but,  poor  fellow,  he  could  not  speak,  for 
his  jaw  had  been  broken  by  a  tomahawk.  He 
merely  muttered  :  "  Pardon,  my  captain  !  '* 
Immediately  convulsions  seized  him.  I  divined 
what  he  wanted,  remembering  the  bullet  which 
in  the  morning  had  whistled  at  my  ear,  and  I 
forgave  him,  as  becomes  a  Christian.  I  knew 
that  he  carried  with  him  to  the  grave  a  deep, 


74 


LILLIAN  MORRIS. 


though  unacknowledged  feehng  for  LilHan,  and 
supposed  that  he  might  have  sought  death. 

He  died  about  midnight ;  we  buried  him  under 
an  immense  cottonwood,  on  the  bark  of  which  I 
carved  out  a  cross  with  my  knife. 


^ 


On  the  following  day  we  moved  on.  Before 
us  was  a  prairie  still  more  extensive,  more  level, 
wilder,  a  region  which  the  foot  of  a  white  man 
had  hardly  touched  at  that  time,  —  in  a  word, 
we  were  in  Nebraska. 

During  the  first  days  we  moved  quickly  enough 
over  treeless  expanses,  but  not  without  dif- 
ficulty, for  there  was  an  utter  lack  of  wood  for 
fuel.  The  banks  of  the  Platte  River,  which  cuts 
the  whole  length  of  those  measureless  plains, 
were,  it  is  true,  covered  with  a  dense  growth  of 


76  LILLIAN  MORRIS. 

osier  and  willow ;  but  that  river  having  a  shallow 
bed,  had  overflowed,  as  is  usual  in  spring,  and 
we  had  to  keep  far  away.  Meanwhile  we  passed 
the  nights  at  smouldering  fires  of  buffalo  dung, 
which,  not  dried  yet  sufficiently  by  the  sun,  rather 
smouldered  with  a  blue  flame  than  burnt.  We 
hurried  on  then  with  every  effort  toward  Big  Blue 
River,  where  we  could  find  abundance  of  fuel. 

The  country  around  us  bore  every  mark  of  a 
primitive  land.  Time  after  time,  before  the 
train,  which  extended  now  in  a  very  loose  line, 
rushed  herds  of  antelopes  with  ruddy  hair  and 
with  white  under  the  belly ;  at  times  there  ap- 
peared in  the  waves  of  grass  the  immense 
shaggy  heads  of  buffaloes,  with  bloodshot  eyes 
and  steaming  nostrils ;  then  again  these  beasts 
were  seen  in  crowds,  like  black  moving  patches 
on  the  distant  prairie. 

In  places  we  passed  near  whole  towns  formed 
of  mounds  raised  by  prairie  dogs.  The  Indians 
did  not  show  themselves  at  first,  and  only  a  num- 
ber of  days  later  did  we  see  three  wild  horsemen, 


LILLIAN  MORRIS.  77 

ornamented  with  feathers ;  but  they  vanished 
before  our  eyes  in  an  instant,  Hke  phantoms.  I 
convinced  myself  afterward  that  the  bloody 
lesson  which  I  had  given  them  on  the  Missouri, 
made  the  name  of  **Big  Ara"  (for  thus  they 
had  modified  Big  Ralph)  terrible  among  the 
many  tribes  of  prairie  robbers ;  the  kindness 
shown  the  prisoners  had  captivated  those  peo- 
ple, wild  and  revengeful,  though  not  devoid  of 
knightly  feeling. 

When  we  had  come  to  Big  Blue  River,  I 
resolved  to  halt  ten  days  at  its  woody  banks. 
The  second  half  of  the  road,  which  lay  before 
us,  was  more  difficult  than  the  first,  for  beyond 
the  prairie  were  the  Rocky  Mountains,  and  far- 
ther on  the  "Bad  Lands"  of  Utah  and  Nevada. 
Meanwhile,  our  mules  and  horses,  in  spite  of 
abundant  pasture,  had  become  lean  and  road- 
weary;  hence  it  was  needful  to  recruit  their 
strength  with  a  considerable  rest.  For  this  pur- 
pose we  halted  in  the  triangle  formed  by  the 
Big  Blue  River  and  Beaver  Creek. 


78  LILLIAN  MORRIS. 

It  was  a  strong  position,  which,  secured  on 
two  sides  by  the  rivers  and  on  the  third  by  the 
wagons,  had  become  almost  impregnable,  es- 
pecially since  wood  and  water  were  found  on 
the  spot.  Of  camp  labor  there  was  scarcely 
any,  excessive  watching  was  not  needed,  and 
the  emigrants  could  use  their  leisure  with  per- 
fect freedom.  The  days,  too,  were  the  most 
beautiful  of  our  journey.  The  weather  con- 
tinued to  be  marvellous,  and  the  nights  grew 
so  warm  that  one  might  sleep  in  the  open 
air. 

The  people  went  out  in  the  morning  to  hunt, 
and  returned  at  midday,  weighed  down  with 
antelopes  and  prairie  birds,  which  lived  in  mil- 
lions in  the  country  about ;  the  rest  of  the  day 
they  spent  eating,  sleeping,  singing,  or  shooting 
for  amusement  at  wild  geese,  which  flew  in 
whole  flocks  above  the  camp. 

In  my  life  there  has  never  been  anything 
better  or  happier  than  those  ten  days  between 
the  rivers.     From  morning  till   evening  I  did 


LILLIAN  MORRIS.  79 

not  part  from  Lillian,  and  that  beginning  not  of 
passing  visits,  but,  as  it  were,  of  life,  convinced 
me  more  and  more  that  I  had  loved  once  and 
forever  her,  the  mild  and  gentle.  I  became 
acquainted  with  Lillian  in  those  days  more 
nearly  and  more  deeply.  At  night,  instead  of 
sleeping,  I  thought  frequently  of  what  she  was, 
and  that  she  had  become  to  me  as  dear  and  as 
needful  in  life  as  air  is  for  breathing.  God 
sees  that  I  loved  greatly  her  beautiful  face,  her 
long  tresses,  and  her  eyes, — as  blue  as  that  sky 
bending  over  Nebraska,  —  and  her  form,  lithe 
and  slender,  which  seemed  to  say :  **  Support 
and  defend  me  forever ;  without  thee  I  cannot 
help  myself  in  the  world  !  "  God  sees  that  I 
loved  everything  that  was  in  her,  every  poor  bit 
of  clothing  of  hers,  and  she  attracted  me  with 
such  force  that  I  could  not  resist ;  but  there 
was  another  charm  in  her  for  me,  and  that  was 
her  sweetness  and  sensitiveness. 

Many  women  have  I  met  in  life,  but  never 
have  I  met  and  never  shall  I  meet  another  such. 


8o  LILLIAN  MORRIS. 

and  I  feel  endless  grief  when  I  think  of  her. 
The  soul  in  Lillian  Morris  was  as  sensitive  as 
that  flower  whose  leaves  nestle  in  when  you 
draw  near  to  it.  Sensitive  to  every  word  of 
mine,  she  comprehended  everything  and  re- 
flected every  thought,  just  as  deep,  transparent 
water  reflects  all  that  passes  by  the  brink  of  it. 
At  the  same  time  that  pure  heart  yielded  itself  to 
feeling  with  such  timidity  that  I  felt  how  great 
her  love  must  be  when  she  weakened  and  gave 
herself  in  sacrifice.  And  then  everything  hon- 
orable in  my  soul  was  changed  into  one  feeling 
of  gratitude  to  her.  She  was  simply  my  one, 
my  dearest  in  the  world ;  so  modest,  that  I  had 
to  persuade  her  that  to  love  is  not  a  sin,  and  I 
was  breaking  my  head  continually  over  this  : 
how  can  I  persuade  her?  In  such  emotions 
time  passed  for  us  at  the  meeting  of  the 
rivers,  till  at  last  my  supreme  happiness  was 
accomplished. 

One  morning  at  daybreak  we  started  to  walk 
up  Beaver  Creek;  I  wanted  to  show  her  the 


LILLIAN  MORRIS,  8 1 

beavers ;  a  whole  kingdom  of  them  was  flour- 
ishing not  farther  than  half  a  mile  from  our 
wagons.  Walking  along  the  bank  carefully,  near 
the  bushes,  we  came  soon  to  our  object.  There 
was  a  little  bay  as  it  were,  or  a  lakelet,  formed 
by  the  creek,  at  the  brink  of  which  stood  two 
great  hickory- trees ;  at  the  very  bank  grew 
weeping-willows,  half  their  branches  in  the 
water.  The  beaver-dam,  a  little  higher  up  in 
the  creek,  stopped  its  flow,  and  kept  the  water 
ever  at  one  height  in  the  lakelet,  above  whose 
clear  surface  rose  the  round  cupola-shaped 
houses  of  these  very  clever  animals. 

Probably  the  foot  of  man  had  never  stood 
before  in  that  retreat,  hidden  on  all  sides  by 
trees.  Pushing  apart  cautiously  the  slender 
limbs  of  the  willows,  we  looked  at  the  water, 
which  was  as  smooth  as  a  mirror,  and  blue. 
The  beavers  were  not  at  their  work  yet ;  the 
little  water-town  slumbered  in  visible  quiet ; 
and  such  silence  reigned  on  the  lake  that  I 
heard   Lillian's   breath   when    she    thrust   her 

0 


82  LILLIAN  MORRIS. 

golden  head  through  the  openmg  in  the 
branches  with  mine  and  our  temples  touched. 
I  caught  her  waist  with  my  arm  to  hold  her  on 
the  slope  of  the  bank,  and  we  waited  pa- 
tiently, delighted  with  what  our  eyes  were 
taking  in. 

Accustomed  to  life  in  wild  places,  I  loved 
Nature  as  my  own  mother,  though  simply ;  but 
I  felt  that  something  like  God's  delight  in  Cre- 
ation was  present. 

It  was  early  morning ;  the  light  had  barely 
come,  and  was  reddening  among  the  branches 
of  the  hickories ;  the  dew  was  dropping  from 
the  leaves  of  the  willows,  and  the  world  was 
growing  brighter  each  instant.  Later  on,  there 
came  to  the  other  shore  prairie  chickens,  gray, 
with  black  throats,  pretty  crests  on  their  heads, 
and  they  drank  water,  raising  their  bills  as  they 
swallowed. 

"  Ah,  Ralph  !  how  good  it  is  here,"  whis- 
pered LiUian. 

There  was  nothing  in  my  head  then  but  a 


LILLIAN  MORRIS  83 

cottage  in  some  lonely  canyon,  she  with  me, 
and  such  a  rosary  of  peaceful  days,  flowing 
calmly  into  eternity  and  endless  rest.  It 
seemed  to  us  that  we  had  brought  to  that  wed- 
ding of  Nature  our  own  wedding,  to  that  calm 
our  calm,  and  to  that  bright  light  the  bright 
light  of  happiness  within  us. 

Now  the  smooth  surface  described  itself  in  a 
circle,  and  from  the  water  came  up  slowly  the 
bearded  face  of  a  beaver,  wet  and  rosy  from 
the  gleam  of  the  morning ;  then  a  second,  and 
the  two  little  beasts  swam  toward  the  lake, 
pushing  apart  with  their  noses  blue  lines,  puff- 
ing and  muttering.  They  climbed  the  dam, 
and,  sitting  on  their  haunches,  began  to  call; 
at  that  signal  heads,  larger  and  smaller,  rose  up 
as  if  by  enchantment ;  a  plashing  was  heard  in 
the  lake.  The  herd  appeared  at  first  to  be 
playing,  —  simply  diving  and  screaming  in  its 
own  fashion  from  delight ;  but  the  first  pair, 
looking  from  the  dam,  gave  a  sudden,  pro- 
longed   whistle    from    their   nostrils,   and  in  a 


84  LILLIAN  MORRIS. 

twinkle  half  of  the  beavers  were  on  the  dam, 
and  the  other  half  had  swum  to  the  banks  and 
vanished  under  the  willows,  where  the  water 
began  to  boil,  and  a  sound  as  it  were  of  sawing 
indicated  that  the  little  beasts  were  working 
there,  cutting  branches  and  bark. 

Lillian  and  I  looked  long,  very  long,  at 
these  acts,  and  at  the  pleasures  of  animal 
life  until  man  disturbs  it.  Wishing  to  change 
her  position,  she  moved  a  branch  accident- 
ally, and  in  the  twinkle  of  an  eye  every  beaver 
had  vanished  ;  only  the  disturbed  water  indi- 
cated that  something  was  beneath ;  but  after 
a  while  the  water  became  smooth,  and  silence 
surrounded  us  again,  interrupted  only  by  the 
woodpeckers  striking  the  firm  bark  of  the 
hickories. 

Meanwhile  the  sun  had  risen  above  the 
trees  and  began  to  heat  powerfully.  Since 
Lillian  did  not  feel  tired  yet,  we  resolved  to 
go  around  the  little  lake.  On  the  way  we  came 
to  a  small  stream  which  intersected  the  wood 


LILLIAN  MORRIS.  85 

and  fell  into  the  lake  from  the  opposite  side. 
Lillian  could  not  cross  it,  so  I  had  to  carry 
her ;  and  despite  her  resistance,  I  took  her  like 
a  child  in  my  arms  and  walked  into  the  water. 
But  that  stream  was  a  stream  of  temptations. 
Fear  lest  I  should  fall  made  her  seize  my 
neck  with  both  arms,  hold  to  me  with  all  her 
strength,  and  hide  her  shamed  face  behind  my 
shoulder ;  but  I  began  straightway  to  press  my 
lips  to  her  temple,  whispering  :  "  Lillian  I  my 
Lillian  !  "  And  in  that  way  I  carried  her  over 
the  water. 

When  I  reached  the  other  bank  I  wished 
to  carry  her  farther,  but  she  tore  herself  from 
me  almost  rudely.  A  certain  disquiet  seized 
both  of  us;  she  began  to  look  around  as  if 
in  fear,  and  now  pallor  and  now  ruddiness 
struck  her  face  in  turn.  We  went  on.  I  took 
her  hand  and  pressed  it  to  my  heart.  At  mo- 
ments fear  of  myself  seized  me.  The  day 
became  sultry ;  heat  flowed  down  from  the  sky 
to   the  earth ;  the  wind  was  not  blowing,    the 


86  LILLIAN  MORRIS. 

leaves  on  the  hickories  hung  motionless,  the 
only  sound  was  from  woodpeckers  striking  the 
bark  as  before;  all  seemed  to  be  growing  lan- 
guid from  heat  and  falling  asleep.  I  thought 
that  some  enchantment  was  in  the  air,  in  that 
forest,  and  then  I  thought  only  that  Lillian  was 
with  me  and  that  we  were  alone. 

Meanwhile  weariness  began  to  come  on 
Lillian ;  her  breathing  grew  shorter  and  more 
audible,  and  on  her  face,  usually  pale,  fiery 
blushes  beat  forth.  I  asked  if  she  was  not 
tired,  and  if  she  would  not  rest. 

^*  Oh,  no,  no ! "  answered  she  quickly,  as 
if  defending  herself  from  even  the  thought ; 
but  after  a  few  tens  of  steps  she  tottered 
suddenly  and  whispered, — 

"  I  cannot,  indeed,  I  cannot  go  farther." 

Then  I  took  her  again  in  my  arms  and  car- 
ried that  dear  burden  to  the  edge  of  the  shore, 
where  willows,  hanging  to  the  ground,  formed 
a  shady  corridor.  In  this  green  alcove  I  placed 
her  on  the  moss.     I  knelt  down ;  and  when  I 


LILLIAN  MORRIS. 


looked  at  her  the  heart  in  me  was  straitened. 
Her  face  was  as  pale  as  linen,  and  her  staring 
eyes  looked  on  me  with  fear. 

"  Lillian,  what  is  the  matter?  "  cried  I.  ^^  I 
am  with  you.''  I  bent  to  her  feet  then  and  cov- 
ered them  with  kisses.  *^  Lillian  !  "  continued 
I,  "  my  only,  my  chosen,  my  wife  !  " 

When  I  said  these  last  words  a  shiver  passed 
through  her  from  head  to  foot ;  and  suddenly 
she  threw  her  arms  around  my  neck  with  a 
certain  unusual  power,  as  in  a  fever  repeat- 
ing, "  My  dear  !  my  dear  !  my  husband  !  " 
Everything  vanished  from  my  eyes  then,  and 
it  seemed  to  me  that  the  whole  globe  of  the 
earth  was  flying  away  with  us. 

I  know  not  to  this  day  how  it  could  be  that 
when  I  recovered  from  that  intoxication  and 
came  to  my  senses  twilight  was  shining  again 
among  the  dark  branches  of  the  hickories,  but 
it  was  the  twilight  of  evening.  The  wood- 
peckers had  ceased  to  strike  the  trees ;  one 
twilight  on  the  bottom  of  the  lake  was  smiling 


SS  LILLIAN  MORRIS 

at  that  other  which  was  in  the  sky ;  the  inhab- 
itants of  the  water  had  gone  to  sleep ;  the 
evening  was  beautiful,  calm,  filled  with  a  red 
light ;  it  was  time  to  return  to  the  camp. 

When  we  had  come  out  from  beneath  the 
weeping- willows,  I  looked  at  Lillian;  there 
was  not  on  her  face  either  sadness  or  disquiet ; 
in  her  upturned  eyes  was  the  light  of  calm  res- 
ignation and,  as  it  were,  a  bright  aureole  of 
sacrifice  and  dignity  encircled  her  blessed  head. 
When  I  gave  her  my  hand,  she  inclined  her 
head  quietly  to  my  shoulder,  and,  without  turn- 
ing her  eyes  from  the  heavens,  she  said  to  me : 

"  Ralph,  repeat  to  me  that  I  am  your  wife, 
and  repeat  it  to  me  often." 

Since  there  was  i;either  in  the  deserts,  nor  in 
the  place  to  which  we  were  going,  any  marriage 
save  that  of  hearts,  I  knelt  down,  and  when  she 
had  knelt  at  my  side,  I  said :  **  Before  God, 
earth,  and  heaven,  I  declare  to  thee,  Lillian 
Morris,  that  I  take  thee  as  wife.     Amen." 

To  this  she  answered  :  "  Now  I  am  thine  for- 
ever and  till  death,  thy  wife,  Ralph  !  " 


LILLIAN  MORRIS.  89 

.  From  that  moment  we  were  married  ;  she  was 
not  my  sweetheart,  she  was  my  lawful  wife. 
That  thought  was  pleasant  to  both  of  us,  —  and 
pleasant  to  me,  for  in  my  heart  there  rose  a  new 
feeling  of  a  certain  sacred  respect  for  Lillian, 
and  for  myself,  a  certain  honorableness  and 
great  dignity  through  which  love  became  en- 
nobled and  blessed.  Hand  in  hand,  with  heads 
erect  and  confident  look,  we  returned  to  the 
camp,  where  the  people  were  greatly  alarmed 
about  us.  A  number  of  tens  of  men  had  gone 
out  in  every  direction  to  look  for  us ;  and  with 
astonishment  I  learned  afterward  that  some 
had  passed  around  the  lake,  but  could  not 
discover  us;  we  on  our  part  had  not  heard 
their  shouts. 

I  summoned  the  people,  and  when  they  had 
assembled  in  a  circle,  I  took  Lillian  by  the 
hand,  went  into  the  centre  of  the  circle,  and 
said,  — 

"  Gentlemen,  be  witnesses,  that  in  your 
presence  I   call   this  woman,  who  stands  with 


90  .  LILLIAN  MORRIS. 

me,  my  wife ;  and  bear  witness  of  this  before 
justice,  before  law,  and  before  every  one  who- 
soever may  ask  you,  either  in  the  East  or 
the  West." 

"  We  will !  and  hurrah  for  you  both  ! " 
answered  the  miners. 

Old  Smith  asked  Lillian  then,  according  to 
custom,  if  she  agreed  to  take  me  as  husband, 
and  when  she  said  **Yes,"  we  were  legally 
married  before  the  people. 

In  the  distant  prairies  ot  the  West,  and  on 
all  the  frontiers  where  there  are  no  towns, 
magistrates,  or  churches,  marriages  are  not 
performed  otherwise ;  and  to  this  hour,  if  a 
man  calls  a  woman  with  whom  he  lives  under 
the  same  roof  his  wife,  this  declaration  takes 
the  place  of  all  legal  documents.  No  one  of 
my  men  therefore  wondered,  or  looked  at  my 
marriage  otherwise  than  with  the  respect 
shown  to  custom ;  on  the  contrary,  all  were 
rejoiced,  for,  though  I  had  held  them  more 
sternly  than  other    leaders,  they  knew    that    I 


LILLIAN  MORRIS.  91 

. \ 

did  so  honestly,  and  with  each  day  they 
showed  me  more  good  will,  and  my  wife 
was  always  the  eye  in  the  head  of  the  cara- 
van. Hence  there  began  a  holiday  and  amuse- 
ments. The  fires  were  stirred  up ;  the  Scots, 
took  from  their  wagons  the  pipes,  whose  music 
we  both  liked,  since  it  was  for  us  a  pleasant 
reminiscence ;  the  Americans  took  out  their 
favorite  ox-bones,  and  amid  songs,  shouts,  and 
shooting,  the  wedding  evening  passed  for  us. 

Aunt  Atkins  embraced  Lillian  every  little 
while,  now  laughing,  now  weeping,  now  light- 
ing her  pipe,  which  went  out  the  next  mo- 
ment. But  I  was  touched  most  by  the  follow- 
ing ceremony  which  is  a  custom  in  that  mov- 
able portion  of  the  American  population  which 
spends  the  greater  part  of  its  life  in  wagons. 
When  the  moon  went  down  the  men  fast- 
ened on  the  ramrods  of  their  guns  branches  of 
lighted  osier,  and  a  whole  procession,  under  the 
lead  of  old  Smith,  conducted  us  from  wagon 
to   wagon,    asking    Lillian   at    each    of   them, 


92 


LILLIAN  MORRIS. 


"  Is  this  your  home  ?  ''  My  beautiful  love 
answered,  '^  No  !  '^  and  we  went  on.  At  Aunt 
Atkins'  wagon  a  real  tenderness  took  possession 
of  us  all,  for  in  that  one  Lillian  had  ridden 
hitherto.  When  she  said  there  also  in  a  low 
voice,  "  No,"  Aunt  Atkins  bellowed  like  a 
buffalo,  and  seizing  Lillian  in  her  embrace, 
began  to  repeat :  "  My  little  one  !  my  sweet !  '^ 
sobbing  meanwhile,  and  carried  away  with 
weeping.  Lillian  sobbed  too;  and  then  all 
those  hardened  hearts  grew  tender  for  an 
instant,  and  there  was  no  eye  to  which  tears 
did  not  come. 

When  we  approached  it,  I  barely  recognized 
my  wagon,  it  was  decked  with  branches  and 
flowers.  Here  the  men  raised  the  burning 
torches  aloft,  and  Smith  inquired  in  a  louder 
and  more  solemn  voice, — 

"  Is  this  your  home  ?  " 

"That 's  it !     That 's  it !  "  answered  Lillian. 

Then  all  uncovered  their  heads,  and  there 
was  such  silence  that  I  heard  the  hissing  of 


LILLIAN  MORRIS.  93 

the  fire  and  the  sound  of  the  burnt  twigs 
falHng  on  the  ground ;  the  old  white-haired 
miner,  stretching  out  his  sinewy  hands  over  us, 
said,  — 

**  May  God  bless  you  both,  and  your  house, 
Amen  ! " 

A  triple  hurrah  answered  that  blessing.  All 
separated  then,  leaving  me  and  my  loved  one 
alone. 

When  the  last  man  had  gone,  she  rested  her 
head  on  my  breast,  whispering :  "  Forever  ! 
forever  !  "  and  at  that  moment  the  stars  in  our 
souls  outnumbered  the  stars  of  the  sky. 


Next  morning  early  I  left  my  wife  sleeping 
and  went  to  find  flowers  for  her.  While 
looking  for  them,  I  said  to  myself  every  mo- 
ment :  "  You  are  married  !  "  and  the  thought 
filled  me  with  such  delight,  that  I  raised  my 
eyes  to  the  Lord  of  Hosts,  thanking  Him  for 
having  permitted  me  to  live  to  the  time  in 
which  a  man  becomes  himself  genuinely  and 
rounds  out  his  life  with  the  life  of  another 
loved  beyond  all.  I  had  something  now  of  my 
own  in  the  world,  and  though  that  canvas-cov- 


9 6  LILLIAN  MORRIS 

ered  wagon  was  my  only  house  and  hearth,  I 
felt  richer  at  once,  and  looked  at  my  previous 
wandering  lot  with  pity,  and  with  wonder  that 
I  could  have  lived  in  that  manner  hitherto. 
Formerly  it  had  not  even  come  to  my  head 
what  happiness  there  is  in  that  word  ^^  wife,"  — 
happiness  which  called  to  my  heart's  blood  with 
that  name,  and  to  the  best  part  of  my  own 
soul.  For  a  long  time  I  had  so  loved  Lillian 
that  I  saw  the  whole  world  through  her  only, 
connected  everything  with  her,  and  understood 
everything  only  as  it  related  to  her.  And  now 
when  I  said  "wife,"  that  meant,  mine,  mine 
forever;  and  I  thought  that  I  should  go  wild 
with  delight,  for  it  could  not  find  place  in  my 
head,  that  I,  a  poor  man,  should  possess  such 
a  treasure.  What  then  was  lacking  to  me? 
Nothing.  Had  those  prairies  been  warmer, 
had  there  been  safety  there  for  her,  had  it  not 
been  for  the  obligation  to  lead  people  to  the 
place  to  which  I  had  promised  to  lead  them, 
I  was  ready  not  to  go  to  California,  but  to  settle 


LILLIAN  MORRIS 


97 


even  in  Nebraska,  if  with  Lillian.  I  had  been 
going  to  California  to  dig  gold,  but  now  I  was 
ready  to  laugh  at  the  idea.  "  What  other 
riches  can  I  find  there,  when  I  have  her?"  I 
asked  myself.  '*  What  do  we  care  for  gold  ? 
See,  I  will  choose  some  canyon,  where  there  is 
spring  all  the  year ;  I  will  cut  down  trees  for  a 
house,  and  live  with  her,  and  a  plough  and  a 
gun  will  give  us  life.  We  shall  not  die  of 
hunger — "  These  were  my  thoughts  while 
gathering  flowers,  and  when  I  had  enough  of 
them  I  returned  to  the  camp.  On  the  road  I 
met  Aunt  Atkins. 

^^  Is  the  little  one  sleeping?'*  asked  she, 
taking  from  her  mouth  for  a  moment  the  insep- 
arable pipe. 

"  She  is  sleeping,"  answered  I. 

To  this  Aunt  Atkins,  blinking  with  one  eye, 
added,  — 

'*  Ah,  you  rascal !  " 

Meanwhile  the  "  little  one  "  was  not  sleep- 
ing, for  we  both  saw  her  coming  down  from  the 
7 


98  LILLIAN  MORRIS 

wagon,  and  shielding  her  eyes  against  the  sun- 
Hght  with  her  hand,  she  began  to  look  on  every 
side.  Seeing  me,  she  ran  up  all  rosy  and  fresh, 
as  the  morning.  When  I  opened  my  arms,  she 
fell  into  them  panting,  and  putting  up  her 
mouth,  began  to  repeat :  — 

"  Dzien  dobry  !  dzien  dobry  !  dzien  dobry  !  " 

Then  she  stood  on  her  toes,  and  looking  into 
my  eyes,  asked  with  a  roguish  smile,  ^'Am  I 
your  wife?  " 

What  was  there  to  answer,  except  to  kiss 
without  end  and  fondle  ?  And  thus  passed  the 
whole  time  at  that  meeting  of  rivers,  for  old 
Smith  had  taken  on  himself  all  my  duties  till 
the  resumption  of  our  journey. 

We  visited  our  beavers  once  more,  and  the 
stream,  through  which  I  carried  her  now  without 
resistance.  Once  we  went  up  Blue  River  in  a 
little  redwood  canoe.  At  a  bend  of  the  stream 
I  showed  Lillian  buffaloes  near  by,  driving  their 
horns  into  the  bank,  from  which  their  whole 
heads  were  covered  as  if  with  armor  of  dried 


LILLIAN  MORRIS.  99 

clay.  But  two  days  before  starting,  these  ex- 
peditions ceased,  for  first  the  Indians  had  ap- 
peared in  the  neighborhood,  and  second  my 
dear  lady  had  begun  to  be  weak  somewhat. 
She  grew  pale  and  lost  strength,  and  when  I 
inquired  what  the  trouble  was,  she  answered 
only  with  a  smile  and  the  assurance  that  it  was 
nothing.  I  watched  over  her  sleep,  I  nursed 
her  as  well  as  I  was  able,  almost  preventing  the 
breezes  from  blowing  on  her,  and  grew  thin 
from  anxiety.  Aunt  Atkins  blinked  mysteri- 
ously with  her  left  eye  when  talking  of  Lillian's 
illness,  and  sent  forth  such  dense  rolls  of  smoke 
that  she  grew  invisible  behind  them.  I  was 
disturbed  all  the  more,  because  sad  thoughts 
came  to  Lillian  at  times.  She  had  beaten  it 
into  her  head  that  maybe  it  was  not  permitted 
to  love  so  intensely  as  we  were  loving,  and  once, 
putting  her  finger  on  the  Bible,  which  we  read 
every  day,  she  said  sadly,  — 

"  Read,  Ralph." 

I   looked,  and   a   certain  wonderful   feeling 


lOO  LILLIAN  MORRIS. 

seized  my  heart  too,  when  I  read,  "  Who 
changed  the  truth  of  God  into  a  He,  and  wor- 
shipped and  served  the  creature  more  than  the 
Creator,  who  is  blessed  forever."  She  said 
when  I  had  finished  reading,  "  But  if  God  is 
angry  at  this,  I  know  that  with  His  goodness 
He  will  punish  only  me." 

I  pacified  her  by  saying  that  love  was  sim- 
ply an  angel,  who  flies  from  the  souls  of  two 
people  to  God  and  takes  Him  praise  from  the 
earth.  After  that  there  was  no  talk  between  us 
touching  such  things,  since  preparations  for  the 
journey  had  begun.  The  fitting  up  of  wagons 
and  beasts,  and  a  thousand  occupations,  stole 
my  time  from  me.  When  at  last  the  hour  came 
for  departure  we  took  tearful  farewell  of  that 
river  fork,  which  had  witnessed  so  much  of  our 
happiness ;  but  when  I  saw  the  train  stretching 
out  again  on  the  prairie,  the  wagons  one  after 
another  and  lines  of  mules  before  the  wagons, 
I  felt  a  certain  consolation  at  the  thought  that 
the  end  of  the  journey  would  be  nearer  each 


LILLIAN  MORRIS.  lOI 

day,  that  a  few  months  more  and  we  should  see 
CaUfornia,  toward  which  we  were  striving  with 
such  toil. 

But  the  first  days  of  the  journey  did  not 
pass  over-successfully.  Beyond  the  Missouri, 
as  far  as  the  foot  of  the  Rocky  Mountains, 
the  prairie  rises  continually  over  enormous 
expanses^  therefore  the  beasts  were  easily 
wearied,  and  were  often  tired  out.  Besides, 
we  could  not  approach  the  Platte  River,  for, 
though  the  flood  had  decreased,  it  was  the 
time  of  the  great  spring  hunts,  and  a  multi- 
tude of  Indians  circled  around  the  river,  look- 
ing for  herds  of  buffaloes  moving  northward. 
Night  service  became  difficult  and  wearying; 
no  night  passed  without  alarms. 

On  the  fourth  day  after  we  had  moved  from 
the  river  fork,  I  broke  up  a  considerable  party 
of  Indian  plunderers  at  the  moment  when  they 
were  trying  to  stampede  our  mules.  But  worst 
of  all  were  the  nights  without  fire.  We  were 
unable  to  approach  the  Platte  River,  and  fre- 


I02  LILLIAN  MORRIS. 

quently  had  nothing  to  burn,  and  toward 
morning  drizzling  rain  began  to  fall;  buffalo 
dung,  which  in  case  of  need  took  the  place  of 
wood,  got  wet,  and  would  not  burn. 

The  buffaloes  filled  me  with  alarm  also. 
Sometimes  we  saw  herds  of  some  thousands 
on  the  horizon,  rushing  forward  like  a  storm, 
crushing  everything  before  them.  Were  such 
a  herd  to  strike  the  train,  we  should  perish 
every  one  without  rescue.  To  complete  the 
evil,  the  prairie  was  swarming  at  that  time 
with  beasts  of  prey  of  all  species ;  after  the 
buffaloes  and  Indians,  came  terrible  gray  bears, 
cougars,  big  wolves  from  Kansas  and  the  In- 
dian Territory.  At  the  small  streams,  where 
we  stopped  sometimes  for  the  night,  we  saw 
at  sunset  whole  menageries  coming  to  drink 
after  the  heat  of  the  day.  Once  a  bear  rushed 
at  Wichita,  our  half-breed ;  and  if  I  had  not 
run  up,  with  Smith  and  the  other  scout,  Tom, 
to  help  him,  he  would  have  been  torn  to 
pieces.     I   opened    the    head   of  the    monster 


LILLIAN  MORRIS.  IO3 

with  an  axe,  which  I  brought  down  with  such 
force  that  the  handle  of  tough  hickory  was 
broken ;  still,  the  beast  rushed  at  me  once 
more,  and  fell  only  when  Smith  and  Tom  shot 
him  in  the  ear  from  rifles.  Those  savage 
brutes  were  so  bold  that  at  night  they  came 
up  to  the  very  train ;  and  in  the  course  of  a 
week  we  killed  two  not  more  than  a  hundred 
yards  from  the  wagons.  In  consequence  of 
this,  the  dogs  raised  such  an  uproar  from  twi- 
light till  dawn  that  it  was  impossible  to  close 
an  eye. 

Once  I  loved  such  a  life  ;  and  when,  a  year 
before,  I  was  in  Arkansas,  during  the  greatest 
heat,  it  was  for  me  as  in  paradise.  But  now, 
when  I  remembered  that  in  the  wagon  my  be- 
loved wife,  instead  of  sleeping,  was  trembling 
about  me,  and  ruining  her  health  with  anxiety, 
I  wished  all  the  Indians  and  bears  and  cougars 
in  the  lowest  pit,  and  desired  from  my  soul  to 
secure  as  soon  as  possible  the  peace  of  that 
being    so    fragile,    so    delicate,    and    so   wor- 


I04  LILLIAN  MORRIS. 

shipped,  that  I  wished  to  bear  her  forever  in 
my  arms. 

A  great  weight  fell  from  my  heart  when, 
after  three  weeks  of  such  crossings,  I  saw  at 
last  the  waters  of  a  river  white  as  if  traced 
out  with  chalk ;  this  stream  is  called  now 
Republican  River,  but  at  that  time  it  had  no 
name  in  English.  Broad  belts  of  dark  wil- 
lows, stretching  like  a  mourning  trail  along  the 
white  waters,  could  afford  us  fuel  in  plenty; 
and  though  that  kind  of  willow  crackles  in  the 
fire,  and  shoots  sparks  with  great  noise,  still 
it  burns  better  than  wet  buffalo  dung.  I  ap- 
pointed at  this  place  another  rest  of  two  days, 
because  the  rocks,  scattered  here  and  there 
by  the  banks  of  the  river,  indicated  the  prox- 
imity of  a  hilly  country,  difficult  to  cross,  lying 
on  both  sides  of  the  back  of  the  Rocky  Moun- 
tains. We  were  already  on  a  considerable  ele- 
vation above  the  sea,  as  could  be  known  by 
the  cold  nights. 

That  inequality  between  day  and  night  tem- 


LILLIAN  MORRIS.  IO5 

perature  troubled  us  greatly.  Some  people, 
among  others  old  Smith,  caught  fevers,  and 
had  to  go  to  their  wagons.  The  seeds  of  the 
disease  had  clung  to  them,  probably,  at  the 
unwholesome  banks  of  the  Missouri,  and  hard- 
ship caused  the  outbreak.  The  nearness  of 
the  mountains,  however,  gave  hope  of  a  speedy 
recovery;  meanwhile,  my  wife  nursed  them 
with  a  devotion  innate  to  gentle  hearts  only. 

But  she  grew  thin  herself.  More  than  once, 
when  I  woke  in  the  morning,  my  first  look  fell 
on  her  beautiful  face,  and  my  heart  beat  un- 
easily at  its  pallor  and  the  blue  half  circles 
under  her  eyes.  It  would  happen  that  while 
I  was  looking  at  her  in  that  way  she  would 
wake,  smile  at  me,  and  fall  asleep  again.  Then 
I  felt  that  I  would  have  given  half  my  health 
of  oak  if  we  were  in  California ;  but  California 
was  still  far,  far  away. 

After  two  days  we  started  again,  and  coming 
to  the  Republican  River  at  noon,  were  soon 
moving    along    the    fork   of    the    White    Man 


I06  LILLIAN  MORRIS. 

toward  the  southern  fork  of  the  Platte,  lying  for 
the  most  part  in  Colorado.  The  country  be- 
came more  mountainous  at  every  step,  and  we 
were  really  in  the  canyon  along  the  banks  of 
which  rose  up  in  the  distance  higher  and 
higher  granite  chffs,  now  standing  alone,  now 
stretching  out  continuously  like  walls,  now 
closing  more  narrowly,  now  opening  out  on 
both  sides.  Wood  was  not  lacking,  for  all  the 
cracks  and  crannies  of  the  cliffs  were  covered 
with  dwarf  pine  and  dwarf  oak  as  well.  Here 
and  there  springs  were  heard ;  along  the  rocky 
walls  scampered  the  wolverine.  The  air  was 
cool,  pure,  wholesome.  After  a  week  the  fe- 
ver ceased.  But  the  mules  and  horses,  forced 
to  eat  food  in  which  heather  predominated, 
instead  of  the  juicy  grass  of  Nebraska,  grew 
thinner  and  thinner,  and  groaned  more  loudly 
as  they  pulled  up  the  mountains  our  well  filled 
and  weighty  wagons. 

At  last  on  a  certain  afternoon  we  saw  before 
us  beacons,  as  it  were,  or  crested  clouds  half 


LILLIAN  MORRIS  IO7 

melting  in  the  distance,  hazy,  blue,  azure,  with 
white  and  gold  on  their  crests,  and  immense 
in  size,  extending  from  the  earth  to  the  sky. 

At  this  sight  a  shout  rose  in  the  whole 
caravan ;  men  climbed  to  the  tops  of  the 
wagons  to  see  better,  from  every  side  thun- 
dered shouts  :  '^  Rocky  Mountains  !  Rocky 
Mountains ! "  Caps  were  waving  in  the  air, 
and  on  all  faces  enthusiasm  was  evident. 

Thus  the  Americans  greeted  their  Rocky 
Mountains,  but  I  went  to  my  wagon,  and, 
pressing  my  wife  to  my  breast,  vowed  faith 
to  her  once  more  in  spirit  before  those  heaven- 
touching  altars,  which  expressed  such  solemn 
mysteriousness,  majesty,  unapproachableness, 
and  immensity.  The  sun  was  just  setting, 
and  soon  twilight  covered  the  whole  country ; 
but  those  giants  in  the  last  rays  seemed  like 
measureless  masses  of  burning  coal  and  lava. 
Later  on,  that  fiery  redness  passed  into  violet, 
ever  darker,  and  at  last  all  disappeared,  and 
was  merged  into  one  darkness,  through  which 


Io8  LILLIAN  MORRIS. 

gazed  at  us  from  above  the  stars,  the  twinkhng 
eyes  of  the  night. 

But  we  were  at  least  a  hundred  and  fifty 
miles  yet  from  the  main  chain ;  in  fact,  the 
mountains  disappeared  from  our  eyes  next  day, 
intercepted  by  cliffs ;  again  they  appeared  and 
again  they  vanished,  as  our  road  went  by 
turns. 

We  advanced  slowly,  for  new  obstacles 
stood  in  our  way ;  and  though  we  kept  as 
much  as  possible  to  the  bed  of  the  river, 
frequently,  where  the  banks  were  too  steep, 
we  had  to  go  around  and  seek  a  passage  by 
neighboring  valleys.  The  ground  in  these 
valleys  was  covered  with  gray  heather  and 
wild  peas,  not  good  even  for  mules,  and 
forming  no  little  hindrance  to  the  journey, 
for  the  long  and  powerful  stems,  twisting 
around,  made  it  difficult  to  pass  through 
them. 

Sometimes  we  came  upon  openings  and 
cracks  in  the  earth,  impassable  and  hundreds 


LILLIAN  MORRIS 


109 


of  yards  long ;  these  we  had  to  go  around 
also.  Time  after  time  the  scouts,  Wichita 
and  Tom,  returned  with  accounts  of  new 
obstacles.  The  land  bristled  with  rocks,  or 
broke  away  suddenly. 

On  a  certain  day  it  seemed  to  us  that  we 
were  going  through  a  valley,  when  all  at  once 
the  valley  was  missing;  in  place  of  it  was  a 
precipice  so  deep  that  the  gaze  went  down 
with  terror  along  the  perpendicular  wall,  and 
the  head  became  dizzy.  Giant  oaks,  growing 
at  the  bottom  of  the  abyss,  seemed  little 
black  clumps,  and  the  buffaloes  pasturing 
among  them  like  beetles.  We  entered  more 
and  more  into  the  region  of  precipices,  of 
stones,  fragments,  debris,  and  rocks  thrown 
one  on  the  other  with  a  kind  of  wild  disorder. 
The  echo  sent  back  twice  and  thrice  from 
granite  arches  the  curses  of  drivers  and 
squealing  of  mules.  On  the  prairie  our  wag- 
ons, rising  high  above  the  surface  of  the 
country,    seemed   lordly   and    immense ;    here 


no  LILLIAN  MORRIS. 

before  those  perpendicular  cliffs,  the  wagons 
became  wonderfully  small  to  the  eye,  and 
vanished  in  those  gorges  as  if  devoured  by 
gigantic  jaws.  Little  waterfalls,  or  as  they 
are  called  by  the  Indians,  '•  laughing  waters," 
stopped  the  road  to  us  every  few  hundred 
yards ;  toil  exhausted  our  strength  and  that 
of  the  animals.  Meanwhile,  when  at  times  the 
real  chain  of  mountains  appeared  on  the 
horizon,  it  seemed  as  far  away  and  hazy  as 
ever.  Happily  curiosity  overcame  in  us  even 
weariness,  and  the  continual  change  of  views 
kept  it  in  practice.  None  of  my  people,  not 
excepting  those  who  were  born  in  the  Alle- 
ghanies,  had  ever  seen  such  wild  regions ; 
I  myself  gazed  with  wonder  on  those  canyons, 
along  the  edges  of  which  the  unbridled  fancy 
of  Nature  had  reared  as  it  were  castles,  for- 
tresses, and  stone  cities.  From  time  to  time 
we  met  Indians,  but  these  were  different  from 
those  on  the  prairies,  very  straggling  and  very 
much  wilder. 


LILLIAN  MORRIS 


The  sight  of  white  men  roused  in  them 
fear  mingled  with  a  desire  for  blood.  They 
seemed  still  more  cruel  than  their  brethren 
in  Nebraska ;  their  stature  was  loftier,  their 
complexion  much  darker,  their  wide  nostrils 
and  quick  glances  gave  them  the  expression 
of  wild  beasts  caught  in  a  trap.  Their  move- 
ments, too,  had  almost  the  quickness  and 
timidity  of  beasts.  While  speaking,  they  put 
their  thumbs  to  their  cheeks,  which  were 
painted  in  white  and  blue  stripes.  Their 
weapons  were  tomahawks  and  bows,  the  latter 
made  of  a  certain  kind  of  firm  mountain 
hawthorn,  so  rigid  that  my  men  could  not 
bend  them.  These  savages,  who  in  consider- 
able numbers  might  have  been  very  dangerous, 
were  distinguished  by  invincible  thievishness ; 
happily  they  were  few,  the  largest  party  that 
we  met  not  exceeding  fifteen.  They  called 
themselves  Tabeguachis,  Winemucas,  and  Yam- 
pas.  Our  scout,  Wichita,  though  expert  in 
Indian   dialects,    could    not    understand    their 


LILLIAN  MORRIS, 


language ;  hence  we  could  not  make  out  in 
any  way  why  all  of  them,  pointing  to  the 
Rocky  Mountains  and  then  to  us,  closed  and 
opened  their  palms,  as  if  indicating  some 
number. 

The  road  became  so  difficult,  that  with 
the  greatest  exertion,  we  made  barely  fifteen 
miles  a  day.  At  the  same  time  our  horses 
began  to  die,  being  less  enduring  than  mules 
and  more  choice  of  food;  men  failed  in 
strength  too,  for  during  whole  days  they  had 
to  draw  wagons  with  the  mules,  or  to  hold 
them  in  dangerous  places.  By  degrees  unwil- 
hngness  seized  the  weakest;  some  got  the 
rheumatism,  and  one,  through  whose  mouth 
blood  came  from  exertion,  died  in  three  days, 
cursing  the  hour  in  which  it  came  to  his  head 
to  leave  New  York.  We  were  then  in  the 
worst  part  of  the  road,  near  the  little  river 
called  by  the  Indians  Kiowa.  There  were  no 
cliffs  there  as  high  as  on  the  Eastern  boundary 
of  Colorado ;  but  the  whole  country,  as  far  as 


LILLIAN  MORRIS  II3 

the  eye  could  reach,  was  bristling  with  frag- 
ments thrown  in  disorder  one  upon  another. 
These  fragments,  some  standing  upright,  others 
overturned,  presented  the  appearance  of  ruined 
graveyards  with  fallen  headstones.  Those  were 
really  the  "  Bad  Lands  "  of  Colorado,  answering 
to  those  which  extended  northward  over  Ne- 
braska. With  the  greatest  effort  we  escaped 
from  them  in  the  course  of  a  week. 


At  last  we  found  ourselves  at  the  foot  of  the 
Rocky  Mountains. 

Fear  seized  me  when  I  looked  from  a  proxi- 
mate point  at  that  world  of  granite  mountains, 
whose  sides  were  wrapped  in  mist,  and  whose 
summits  were  lost  somewhere  in  eternal  snow 
and  clouds.  Their  size  and  silent  majesty 
pressed  me  to  the  earth ;  hence  I  bent  before 
the  Lord,  imploring  Him  to  permit  me  to  lead, 
past  those  measureless  walls,  my  wagons,  my 
people,  and  my  wife.     After  such  a  prayer  I 


Il6  LILLIAN  MORRIS. 

entered  the  stone  gullies  and  corridors  with 
more  confidence.  When  they  closed  behind  us 
we  were  cut  off  from  the  rest  of  the  world. 
Above  was  the  sky  ;  in  it  a  few  eagles  were 
screaming,  around  us  was  granite  and  then 
granite  without  end,  —  a  genuine  labyrinth  of 
passages,  vaults,  ravines,  openings,  precipices, 
towers,  silent  edifices,  and  as  it  were  cham- 
bers, gigantic  and  dreamy.  There  is  such 
a  solemnity  there,  and  the  soul  is  under  such 
pressure,  that  a  man  knows  not  himself  why  he 
whispers  instead  of  speaking  aloud.  It  seems 
to  him  that  the  road  is  closing  before  him  con- 
tinually, that  some  voice  is  saying  to  him  :  '^  Go 
no  farther,  for  there  is  no  passage  !  "  It  seems 
to  him  that  he  is  attacking  some  secret  on 
which  God  Himself  has  set  a  seal.  At  night, 
when  those  upright  legions  were  standing  as  black 
as  mourning,  and  the  moon  cast  about  their 
summits  a  silvery  mantle  of  sadness,  when  cer- 
tain wonderful  shadows  rose  around  the  "  laugh- 
ing waters,"  a  quiver  passed  through  the  most 


LILLIAN  MORRIS.  II7 

hardened  adventurers.  We  spent  whole  hours 
by  the  fires,  lookmg  with  a  certain  superstitious 
awe  at  the  dark  depths  of  the  ravines,  hghted  by 
ruddy  gleams ;  we  seemed  to  think  that  some- 
thing terrible  might  show  itself  any  moment. 

Once  we  found  under  a  hollow  in  the  cliff 
the  skeleton  of  a  man ;  and  though  from  the 
remnant  of  the  hair  which  had  dried  to  the 
skull,  we  saw  that  he  was  an  Indian,  still  an 
ominous  feeling  pressed  our  hearts,  for  that 
skeleton  with  grinning  teeth  seemed  to  fore- 
warn us  that  whoso  wandered  in  there  would 
never  come  out  again. 

That  same  day  the  half-breed,  Tom,  was 
killed  suddenly,  having  fallen  with  his  horse 
from  the  edge  of  a  cliff.  A  gloomy  sadness 
seized  the  whole  caravan ;  formerly  we  had 
advanced  noisily  and  joyfully,  now  the  drivers 
ceased  to  swear,  and  the  caravan  pushed  forward 
in  a  silence  broken  only  by  the  squeaking  of 
wheels.  The  mules  grew  ill-tempered  more 
frequently,  and  when  one  pair  stood  as  still  as 


Il8  LILLIAN  MORRIS. 

if  lashed  to  the  earth,  all  the  wagons  behind 
them  had  to  stop.  I  was  most  tortured  by  this, 
—  that  in  those  moments  which  were  so  difficult 
and  oppressive,  and  in  which  my  wife  needed  my 
presence  more  than  at  other  times,  I  could  not 
be  near  her  ;  for  I  had  to  double  and  treble  myself 
almost,  so  as  to  give  an  example,  uphold  courage 
and  confidence.  The  men,  it  is  true,  bore  toil 
with  the  endurance  innate  with  Americans,  though 
they  were  simply  using  the  last  of  their  strength. 
But  my  health  was  proof  against  every  hardship. 
There  were  nights  in  which  I  did  not  have  two 
hours  of  sleep ;  I  dragged  the  wagons  with 
others,  I  posted  the  sentries,  I  went  around  the 
square,  —  in  a  word,  I  performed  service  twice 
more  burdensome  than  any  one  of  the  company  ; 
but  it  is  evident  that  happiness  gave  me  strength. 
For  when,  wearied  and  beaten  down,  I  came  to 
my  wagon,  I  found  there  everything  that  I  held 
dearest:  a  faithful  heart  and  a  beloved  hand, 
that  wiped  my  wearied  forehead.  Lillian, 
though   suffering  a  little,   never  went  to  sleep 


LILLIAN  MORRIS.  II9 

wittingly  before  my  arrival;  and  when  I  re- 
proached her  she  closed  my  mouth  with  a  kiss 
and  a  prayer  not  to  be  angry.  When  I  told  her 
to  sleep  she  did  so,  holding  my  hand.  Fre- 
quently in  the  night,  when  she  woke,  she  cov- 
ered me  with  beaver  skins,  so  that  I  might  rest 
better.  Always  mild,  sweet,  loving,  she  cared 
for  me  and  brought  me  to  worship  her  simply. 
I  kissed  the  hem  of  her  garment,  as  if  it  had 
been  the  most  sacred  thing,  and  that  wagon  of 
ours  became  for  me  almost  a  church.  That 
little  one  in  presence  of  those  heaven-touching 
walls  of  granite,  upon  which  she  cast  her  up- 
raised eyes,  covered  them  for  me  in  such  a  way, 
that  in  presence  of  her  they  vanished  from  before 
me,  and  amid  all  those  immensities  I  saw  only 
her.  What  is  there  wonderful,  if  when  strength 
failed  others,  I  had  strength  still,  and  felt  that  so 
long  as  it  was  a  question  of  her  I  would  never 
fail? 

After  three  weeks'  journey  we  came  at  last  to 
a  more  spacious  canyon  formed  by  White  River. 


I20  LILLIAN  MORRIS. 

At  the  entrance  to  it  the  Winta  Indians  pre- 
pared an  ambush  which  annoyed  us  somewhat; 
but  when  their  reddish  arrows  began  to  reach 
the  roof  of  my  wife's  wagon,  I  struck  on  them 
with  my  men  so  violently  that  they  scattered  at 
once.  We  killed  three  or  four  of  them.  The 
only  prisoner  whom  we  took,  a  youth  of 
sixteen,  when  he  had  recovered  a  little  from 
terror,  pointed  in  turn  at  us  and  to  the  West, 
repeating  the  same  gestures  which  the  Yampa 
had  made.  It  seemed  to  us  that  he  wanted  to 
say  that  there  were  white  men  near  by,  but  it 
was  difficult  to  give  credit  to  that  supposition. 
In  time  it  turned  out  to  be  correct,  and  it  is 
easy  to  imagine  the  astonishment  and  delight  of 
my  men  on  the  following  day,  when,  descending 
from  an  elevated  plateau,  we  saw  on  a  broad 
valley  which  lay  at  our  feet,  not  only  wagons, 
but  houses  built  of  freshly-cut  logs.  These 
houses  formed  a  circle,  in  the  centre  of  which 
rose  a  large  shed  without  windows ;  through  the 
middle  of  the  plain  a  stream  flowed ;  near  it 


LILLIAN  MORRIS, 


were  herds  of  mules,  guarded  by  men  on 
horseback. 

The  presence  of  men  of  my  own  race  in  that 
valley  filled  me  with  astonishment,  which  soon 
passed  into  fear,  when  I  remembered  that  they 
might  be  **  criminal  outlaws "  hiding  in  the 
desert  from  death.  I  knew  from  experience 
that  such  outcasts  push  frequently  to  very  re- 
mote  and  entirely  desert  regions,  where  they 
form  detachments,  on  a  complete  military  foot- 
ing. Sometimes  they  are  founders  of  new 
societies  as  it  were,  which  at  first  live  by  plun- 
dering people  moving  to  more  inhabited  places  ; 
but  later,  by  a  continual  increase  of  population, 
they  change  by  degrees  into  ordered  societies. 
I  met  more  than  once  with  "  outlaws  "  on  the 
upper  course  of  the  Mississippi,  when,  as  a 
squatter,  I  floated  down  logs  to  New  Orleans ; 
more  than  once  I  had  bloody  adventures  with 
them,  hence  their  cruelty  and  bravery  were 
equally  well  known  to  me. 

I  should  not  have  feared  them  had  not  Lillian 


122  LILLIAN  MORRIS. 

been  with  us ;  but  at  thought  of  the  danger 
in  which  she  would  be  if  we  were  defeated  and 
I  fell,  the  hair  rose  on  my  head,  and  for  the  first 
time  in  my  life  I  was  as  full  of  fear  as  the  great- 
est coward.  But  1  was  convinced  that  if  those 
men  were  outlaws,  we  could  not  avoid  battle 
in  any  way,  and  that  the  conflict  would  be  more 
difficult  with  them  than  with  Indians. 

I  warned  my  men  at  once  of  the  probable 
danger,  and  arranged  them  in  order  of  battle.  I 
was  ready  either  to  perish  myself,  or  destroy 
that  nest  of  wasps,  and  resolved  to  strike  the 
first  blow. 

Meanwhile  they  saw  us  from  the  valley,  and 
two  horsemen  started  toward  us  as  fast  as  their 
horses  could  gallop.  I  drew  breath  at  that 
sight,  for  ''  outlaws  "  would  not  send  messengers 
to  meet  us.  In  fact,  it  turned  out  that  they  were 
riflemen  of  the  American  fur  company,  who  had 
their  *^  summer  camp"  in  that  place.  Instead 
of  a  battle,  therefore,  a  most  hospitable  recep- 
tion   was  waiting  for  us,   and  every  assistance 


LILLIAN  MORRIS. 


123 


from  those  rough  but  honest  riflemen  of  the 
desert.  Indeed,  they  received  us  with  open 
arms,  and  we  thanked  God  for  having  looked 
on  our  misery  and  prepared  such  an  agreeable 
resting-place. 

A  month  and  a  half  had  passed  since  our 
departure  from  Big  Blue  River.  Our  strength 
was  exhausted,  our  mules  were  only  half  alive ; 
but  here  we  might  rest  a  whole  week  in  perfect 
safety,  with  abundance  of  food  for  ourselves, 
and  grass  for  our  beasts.  That  was  simply 
salvation  for  us. 

Mr.  Thorston,  the  chief  of  the  camp,  was  a 
man  of  education  and  enlightenment.  Knowing 
that  I  was  not  a  common  rough  fellow  of  the 
prairies,  he  became  friendly  at  once,  and  gave 
hrs  own  cottage  to  me  and  Lillian,  whose 
health  had  suffered  greatly. 

I  kept  her  two  days  in  bed.  She  was  so 
wearied  that  she  barely  opened  her  eyes  for 
the  first  twenty- four  hours;  during  that  time  I 
took  care  that  nothing  should  disturb  her.     I 


124  LILLIAN  MORRIS. 

sat  at  her  bedside  and  watched  hour  after  hour. 
In  two  days  she  was  strengthened  enough  to 
go  out ;  but  I  did  not  let  her  touch  any  work. 
My  men,  too,  for  the  first  few  days  slept  like 
stones,  wherever  each  one  dropped  down.  Only 
after  they  had  slept  did  we  repair  our  wagons 
and  clothing  and  wash  our  linen.  The  honest 
riflemen  helped  us  in  everything  earnestly. 
They  were  Canadians,  for  the  greater  part, 
who  had  hired  with  the  company.  They 
spent  the  winter  in  trapping  beavers,  killing 
skunks  and  minks ;  in  summer  they  betook 
themselves  to  so-called  "  summer  camps,'*  in 
which  there  were  temporary  storehouses  of 
furs.  The  skins,  dressed  there  in  some  fashion, 
were  taken  under  convoy  to  the  East.  The 
service  of  those  people,  who  hired  for  a  num- 
ber of  years,  was  arduous  beyond  calculation ; 
they  had  to  go  to  very  remote  and  wild  places, 
where  all  kinds  of  animals  existed  in  plenty, 
and  where  they  themselves  lived  in  continual 
danger  and  endless  warfare  with  redskins.    It 


LILLIAN  MORRIS.  I  25 

is  true  that  they  received  high  wages;  most 
of  them  did  not  serve,  however,  for  money, 
but  from  love  of  Ufe  in  the  wilderness,  and 
adventures,  of  which  there  was  never  a  lack. 
The  choice,  too,  was  made  of  people  of  great 
strength  and  health,  capable  of  enduring  all 
toils.  Their  great  stature,  fur  caps,  and  long 
rifles  reminded  Lillian  of  Cooper's  tales  ;  hence 
she  looked  with  curiosity  on  the  whole  camp 
and  on  all  the  arrangements.  Their  discipline 
was  as  absolute  as  that  of  a  knightly  order. 
Thorston,  the  chief  agent  of  the  company, 
and  at  the  same  time  their  employer,  main- 
tained complete  military  authority.  Withal 
they  were  very  honest  people,  hence  time 
passed  for  us  among  them  with  perfect  com- 
fort ;  our  camp,  too,  pleased  them  greatly, 
and  they  said  that  they  had  never  met 
such-  a  disciplined  and  well-ordered  caravan. 
Thorston,  in  presence  of  all,  praised  my  plan 
of  taking  the  northern  route  instead  of  that 
by  St.  Louis  and  Kansas.     He  told  us  that  on 


126  LILLIAN  MORRIS. 

that  route  a  caravan  of  three  hundred  people, 
under  a  certain  Marchwood,  after  numerous 
sufferings  caused  by  heat  and  locusts,  had 
lost  all  their  draught-beasts,  and  were  cut  to 
pieces  at  last  by  the  Arapahoe  Indians.  The 
Canadian  riflemen  had  learned  this  from  the 
Arapahoes  themselves,  whom  they  had  beaten 
in  a  great  battle,  and  from  whom  they  had 
captured  more  than  a  hundred  scalps,  among 
others  that  of  Marchwood  himself. 

This  information  had  great  influence  on  my 
people,  so  that  old  Smith,  a  veteran  pathfinder, 
who  from  the  beginning  was  opposed  to  the 
route  through  Nebraska,  declared  in  presence 
of  all  that  I  was  smarter  than  he,  and  that  it 
was  his  part  to  learn  of  me.  During  our  stay 
in  the  hospitable  summer  camp  we  regained 
our  strength  thoroughly.  Besides  Thorston, 
with  whom  I  formed  a  lasting  friendship,  I 
made  the  acquaintance  of  Mick,  famous  in 
all  the  States.  This  man  did  not  belong  to 
the   camp,   but    had    wandered    through    the 


LILLIAN  MORRIS. 


127 


deserts  with  two  other  famous  explorers,  Lin- 
coln and  Kit  Carson.  Those  three  wonderful 
men  carried  on  real  wars  with  whole  tribes 
of  Indians  ;  their  skill  and  superhuman  courage 
always  secured  them  the  victory.  The  name 
of  Mick,  of  whom  more  than  one  book  is 
written,  was  so  terrible  to  the  Indians,  that 
with  them  his  word  had  more  weight  than  a 
United  States  treaty.  The  Government  em- 
ployed him  often  as  an  intermediary,  and 
finally  appointed  him  Governor  of  Oregon. 
When  I  made  his  acquaintance  he  was  nearly 
fifty  years  old  ;  but  his  hair  was  as  black  as 
the  feather  of  a  raven,  and  in  his  glance  was 
mingled  kindness  of  heart  with  strength  and 
irrestrainable  daring.  He  passed  also  for  the 
strongest  man  in  the  United  States,  and  when 
we  wrestled  I  was  the  first,  to  the  great  aston- 
ishment of  all,  whom  he  failed  to  throw  to  the 
ground.  This  man  with  a  great  heart  loved 
Lillian  immensely,  and  blessed  her,  as  often 
as   he  visited   us.     In  parting  he  gave  her  a 


128  LILLIAN  MORRIS. 

pair  of  beautiful  little  moccasins  made  by 
himself  from  the  skin  of  a  doe.  That  present 
was  very  timely,  for  my  poor  wife  had  not  a 
pair  of  sound  shoes. 

At  last  we  resumed  our  journey,  with  good 
omens,  furnished  with  minute  directions  what 
canyons  to  take  on  the  way,  and  with  sup- 
plies of  salt  game.  That  was  not  all.  The 
kind  Thorston  had  taken  the  worst  of  our 
mules  and  in  place  of  them  given  us  his  own, 
which  were  strong  and  well  rested.  Mick, 
who  had  been  in  California,  told  us  real 
wonders  not  only  of  its  wealth,  but  of  its 
mild  climate,  its  beautiful  oak  forests,  and 
mountain  canyons,  unequalled  in  the  United 
States.  A  great  consolation  entered  our  hearts 
at  once,  for  we  did  not  know  of  the  trials 
which  awaited  us  before  entering  that  land  of 
promise. 

In  driving  away,  we  waved  our  caps  long 
in  farewell  to  the  honest  Canadians.  As  to 
me,    that    day    of    parting    is    graven    in    my 


LILLIAN  MORRIS. 


129 


heart  for  the  ages,  since  m  the  forenoon  that 
beloved  star  of  my  Hfe,  putting  both  arms 
around  my  neck,  began,  all  red  with  embar- 
rassment and  emotion,  to  whisper  something 
in  my  ear.  When  I  heard  it  I  bent  to  her  feet, 
and,  weeping  with  great  excitement,  kissed  her 
knees. 


i 


Two  weeks  after  leaving  the  summer  camp, 
we  came  out  on  the  boundary  of  Utah,  and 
the  journey,  as  of  old,  though  not  without 
labors,  advanced  more  briskly  than  at  the 
beginning.  We  had  yet  to  pass  the  western 
part  of  the  Rocky  Mountains,  forming  a  whole 
network  of  branches  called  the  Wasatch  Range. 
Two  considerable  streams,  Green  and  Grand 
Rivers,  whose  union  forms  the  immense  Colo- 
rado, and  numerous  tributaries  of  those  two 
rivers,   cut  the  mountains  in  every  direction, 


132  LILLIAN  MORRIS. 

opening  in  them  passages  which  are  easy 
enough.  By  these  passages  we  reached  after 
a  certain  time  Utah  Lake,  where  the  salt  lands 
begin.  A  wonderful  country  surrounded  us, 
monotonous,  gloomy;  great  level  valleys  en- 
circled by  cliffs  with  blunt  outlines,  —  these, 
always  alike,  succeed  one  another,  with  oppres- 
sive monotony.  There  is  in  those  deserts  and 
cliffs  a  certain  sternness,  nakedness,  and  torpor, 
so  that  at  sight  of  them  the  Biblical  deserts 
recur  to  one's  mind.  The  lakes  here  are 
brackish,  their  shores  fruitless  and  barren. 
There  are  no  trees;  the  ground  over  an 
enormous  expanse  exudes  salt  and  potash,  or 
is  covered  by  a  gray  vegetation  with  large 
felt-like  leaves,  which,  when  broken,  give  forth 
a  salt,  clammy  sap.  That  journey  is  weari- 
some and  oppressive,  for  whole  weeks  pass, 
and  the  desert  stretches  on  without  end,  and 
opens  into  plains  of  eternal  sameness,  though 
they  are  rocky.  Our  strength  began  to  give 
way    again.       On    the    prairies    we    were    sur- 


LILLIAN  MORRIS. 


133 


rounded  by  the  monotony  of  life^  here  by  the 
monotony  of  death. 

A  certain  oppression  and  indifference  to 
everything  took  gradual  possession  of  the  peo- 
ple. We  passed  Utah,  —  always  the  same  life- 
less lands  !  We  entered  Nevada, — no  change  ! 
The  sun  burnt  so  fiercely  that  our  heads  were 
bursting  from  pain;  the  light,  reflecting  from 
a  surface  covered  with  salt,  dazzled  the  eye; 
in  the  air  was  floating  a  kind  of  dust,  coming 
it  was  unknown  whence,  which  inflamed  our 
eyelids.  The  draught-beasts,  time  after  time, 
seized  the  earth  with  their  teeth,  and  dropped 
from  sunstroke,  as  if  felled  by  lightning.  The 
majority  of  the  people  kept  themselves  up  only 
with  the  thought  that  in  a  week  or  two  weeks 
the  Sierra  Nevada  would  appear  on  the  horizon, 
and  behind  that  the  desired  California. 

Meanwhile  days  passed  and  weeks  in  ever 
increasing  labors.  In  the  course  of  a  certain 
week  we  were  forced  to  leave  three  wagons  be- 
hind, for  there  were  no  animals  to  draw  them. 


134  LILLIAN  MORRIS, 

Oh,  that  was  a  land  of  misfortune  and  misery  ! 
In  Nevada  the  desert  became  deeper,  and  our 
condition  still  worse,  for  disease  fell  upon  us. 

One  morning  people  came  to  inform  me 
that  Smith  was  sick.  I  went  to  see  what  his 
trouble  was,  and  saw  with  amazement  that 
typhus  had  overthrown  the  old  miner.  So 
many  climates  are  not  changed  with  impun- 
ity ;  severe  labor,  in  spite  of  short  rests,  makes 
itself  felt,  and  the  germs  of  disease  are  devel- 
oped from  hardship  and  toil.  Lillian,  whom 
Smith  loved  as  if  she  had  been  his  own  daugh- 
ter, and  whom  he  blessed  on  the  day  of  our 
marriage,  insisted  on  nursing  him.  I,  weak 
man,  trembled  in  my  whole  soul  for  her,  but 
I  could  not  forbid  her  to  be  a  Christian.  She 
sat  over  the  sick  man  whole  days  and  nights, 
together  with  Aunt  Atkins  and  Aunt  Grosvenor, 
who  followed  her  example.  On  the  second 
day,  however,  the  old  man  lost  consciousness, 
and  on  the  eighth  he  died  in  LilKan's  arms.  I 
buried    him,    shedding    ardent    tears    over   the 


LILLIAN  MORRIS.  1 35 

remains  of  him  who  had  been  not  only  my 
assistant  and  right  hand  in  everything,  but  a 
real  father  to  Lillian  and  me.  We  hoped  that 
after  such  a  sacrifice  God  would  take  pity  on 
us ;  but  that  was  merely  the  beginning  of  our 
trials,  for  that  very  day  another  miner  fell  ill, 
and  almost  every  day  after  that  some  one  lay 
down  in  a  wagon,  and  left  it  only  when  borne 
on  our  arms  to  a  grave. 

And  thus  we  dragged  along  over  the  desert, 
and  after  us  followed  the  pestilence,  grasping 
new  victims  continually.  In  her  turn  Aunt 
Atkins  fell  ill,  but,  thanks  to  Lillian's  efforts, 
her  sickness  was  conquered.  The  soul  was 
dying  in  me  every  instant,  and  more  than 
once,  when  Lillian  was  with  the  sick,  and 
I  somewhere  on  guard  in  front  of  the  camp, 
alone  in  the  darkness,  I  pressed  my  temples 
with  my  hands  and  knelt  down  in  prayer  to 
God.  Obedient  as  a  dog,  I  was  whining  for 
mercy  on  her  without  daring  to  say  :  "  Let  Thy 
will    and  not  mine  be   done."     Sometimes  in 


136  LILLIAN  MORRIS, 

the  night,  when  we  were  alone,  I  woke  sud- 
denly, for  it  seemed  to  me  that  the  pestilence 
was  pushing  the  canvas  of  my  wagon  aside  and 
staring  in,  looking  for  Lillian.  All  the  intervals 
when  I  was  not  with  her,  and  they  formed  most 
of  the  time,  were  for  me  changed  into  one  tor- 
ture, under  which  I  bent  as  a  tree  before  a 
whirlwind.  Lillian,  however,  had  been  equal  to 
all  toils  and  efforts  so  far.  Though  the  strong- 
est men  fell,  I  saw  her  emaciated  it  is  true, 
pale,  and  with  marks  of  maternity  increasingly 
definite  on  her  forehead,  but  in  health,  and 
going  from  wagon  to  wagon.  1  dared  not 
even  ask  if  she  were  well ;  I  only  took  her 
by  the  shoulders  and  pressed  her  long  and  long 
to  my  breast,  and  even  had  I  wished  to  speak, 
something  so  oppressed  me,  that  I  could  not 
have  uttered  a  word. 

Gradually,  however,  hope  began  to  enter  me, 
and  in  my  head  were  sounding  no  longer  those 
terrible  words  of  the  Bible  :  "  Who  worshipped 
and  served  the  creature  more  than  the  Creator." 


LILLIAN  MORRIS.  I  37 

We  were  nearing  the  western  part  of  Ne- 
vada, where,  beyond  the  belt  of  dead  lakes, 
the  salt  lands  and  desert  rocks  find  an  end, 
and  a  belt  of  prairie  begins,  more  level,  greener, 
and  very  fertile.  During  two  days'  journey  no 
one  fell  ill ;  I  thought  that  our  misery  was  over. 
And  it  was  high  time  ! 

Nine  men  had  died,  six  were  ailing  yet; 
under  the  fear  of  infection  discipline  had  begun 
to  relax ;  nearly  all  the  horses  were  dead,  and 
the  mules  seemed  rather  skeletons  than  beasts. 
Of  the  fifty  wagons  with  which  we  had  moved 
out  of  the  summer  camp,  only  thirty-two  were 
dragging  now  over  the  desert.  Besides,  since 
no  one  wished  to  go  hunting  lest  he  might  fall 
somewhere  away  from  the  caravan  and  be  left 
without  aid,  our  supplies,  not  being  replenished, 
were  coming  to  an  end.  Wishing  to  spare 
them,  we  had  lived  for  a  week  past  on  black 
ground  squirrels;  but  their  malodorous  meat 
had  so  disgusted  us  that  we  put  it  to  our 
mouths  with  loathing,  and  even  that  wretched 


138  LILLIAN  MORRIS. 

food  was  not  found  in  sufficiency.  Beyond  the 
lakes,  however,  game  became  more  frequent, 
and  grass  was  abundant.  Again  we  met  In- 
dians, who,  in  opposition  to  their  custom,  at- 
tacked us  in  dayHght  and  on  the  open  plain ; 
having  firearms,  they  killed  four  of  our  people. 
In  the  conflict  I  received  such  a  severe  wound 
in  the  head  from  a  hatchet  that  in  the  evening 
of  that  day  I  lost  consciousness  from  loss  of 
blood ;  but  I  was  happy  since  Lillian  was  nurs- 
ing me,  and  not  patients  from  whom  she  might 
catch  the  typhus.  Three  days  I  lay  in  the 
wagon,  pleasant  days,  since  I  was  with  her 
continually.  I  could  kiss  her  hands  when 
she  was  changing  the  bandages,  and  look  at 
her.  On  the  third  day  I  was  able  to  sit  on 
horseback ;  but  the  soul  was  weak  in  me,  and 
I  feigned  sickness  before  myself  so  as  to  be 
with  her  longer. 

Only  then  did  I  discover  how  tired  I  had 
been,  and  what  weariness  had  gone  out  of  my 
bones  while  I  was  lying  prostrate.     Before  my 


LILLIAN  MORRIS.  139 

illness  I  had  suffered  not  a  little  concerning 
my  wife.  I  had  grown  as  thin  as  a  skeleton, 
and  as  formerly  I  had  been  looking  with  fear 
and  alarm  at  her,  so  now  she  was  looking  with 
the  same  feelings  at  me.  But  when  my  head 
had  ceased  to  fall  from  shoulder  to  shoulder 
there  was  no  help  for  it ;  I  had  to  mount  the 
last  living  horse  and  lead  the  caravan  for- 
ward, especially  as  certain  alarming  signs  were 
surrounding  us  on  all  sides.  There  was  a  heat 
wellnigh  preternatural,  and  in  the  air  a  dull 
haze  as  if  of  smoke  from  a  distant  burning  ;  the 
horizon  became  dull  and  dark.  It  was  impos- 
sible to  see  the  sky,  and  the  rays  of  the  sun 
came  to  the  earth  red  and  sickly ;  the  draught- 
beasts  showed  a  wonderful  disquiet,  and,  breath- 
ing hoarsely,  bared  their  teeth.  As  to  us,  we 
inhaled  fire  with  our  breasts.  The  heat  was 
caused,  as  I  thought,  by  one  of  those  stifling 
winds  from  the  Gila  desert,  of  which  men  had 
told  me  in  the  East ;  but  there  was  stillness 
round  about,  and  not  a  grass  blade  was  stirring 


I40  LILLIAN  MORRIS. 

on  the  plain.  In  the  evening  the  sun  went 
down  as  red  as  blood,  and  stifling  nights  fol- 
lowed. The  sick  groaned  for  water,  the  dogs 
howled.  Whole  nights  I  wandered  around  a 
number  of  miles  from  the  camp  to  make  sure 
that  the  plains  were  not  burning ;  but  there  was 
no  fire  in  sight  anywhere.  I  calmed  myself 
finally  with  the  thought  that  the  smoke  must 
be  from  a  fire  that  had  gone  out  already.  In 
the  daytime  I  noticed  that  hares,  antelopes, 
buffaloes,  even  squirrels,  were  hastening  east- 
ward, as  if  fleeing  from  that  California  to  which 
we  were  going  with  such  eflbrt.  But  since  the 
air  had  become  a  little  purer  and  the  heat 
somewhat  less,  I  settled  finally  in  the  thought 
that  there  had  been  a  fire  which  had  ceased, 
that  the  animals  were  merely  looking  for  food 
in  some  new  place.  It  was  only  needful  for  us 
to  push  up  as  soon  as  possible  to  the  burnt  strip, 
and  learn  whether  the  belt  of  fire  could  be 
crossed  or  whether  we  should  go  aroimd  it. 
According   to  my  calculation  it  could  not  be 


LILLIAN  MORRIS.  141 

more  than  three  hundred  miles  to  the  Sierra 
Nevada,  or  about  twenty  days'  journey.  I 
resolved,  therefore,  to  reach  it,  even  with  our 
last  effort. 

We  travelled  at  night  now,  for  during  the 
hours  of  midday  heat  weakened  the  animals 
greatly,  and  among  the  wagons  there  was  always 
some  shade  in  which  they  could  rest. 

One  night,  being  unable  to  remain  on  horse- 
back because  of  weariness  and  my  wound,  I  sat 
in  the  wagon  with  Lillian.  I  heard  all  at  once 
a  sudden  wheezing  and  biting  of  the  wheels 
striking  on  some  peculiar  ground  ;  at  the  same 
time  shouts  of  ^^  Stop  !  stop  !  "  were  heard  along 
the  whole  length  of  the  train.  I  sprang  from  the 
wagon  at  once.  By  the  light  of  the  moon  I  saw 
the  drivers  bent  to  the  earth  and  looking  at  it 
carefully.    At  the  same  moment  a  voice  called  : 

"Ho,  captain,  we  are  travelling  on  coals." 

I  bent  down,  felt  the  earth,  —  we  were  travel- 
ling on  a  burnt  prairie.  I  stopped  the  caravan 
at  once,  and  we  remained  the  rest  of  the  night 


142  LILLIAN  MORRIS. 

on  that  spot.  With  the  first  light  of  morning 
a  wonderful  sight  struck  our  eyes :  As  far  as 
we  could  see,  there  lay  a  plain  black  as  coal, — 
not  only  were  all  the  bushes  and  grass  burnt, 
but  the  earth  was  so  glossy  that  the  feet  of  our 
mules  and  the  wheels  of  the  wagons  were  re- 
flected in  it  as  they  might  have  been  in  a 
mirror.  We  could  not  see  clearly  the  width  of 
the  fire,  for  the  horizon  was  still  hazy  from 
smoke ;  but  I  gave  command  without  hesitation 
to  turn  to  the  south,  so  as  to  reach  the  edge  of 
that  tract  instead  of  venturing  on  the  burnt 
country.  I  knew  from  experience  what  it  is  to 
travel  on  burnt  prairie  land  where  there  is  not 
a  blade  of  grass  for  draught-beasts.  Since 
evidently  the  fire  had  moved  northward  with 
the  wind,  I  hoped  by  going  toward  the  south 
to  reach  the  beginning  of  it. 

The  people  obeyed  my  order,  it  is  true,  but 
rather  unwillingly,  for  it  involved  God  knows 
how  long  a  delay  in  the  journey.  During  our 
halt  at  noon  the  smoke  became  thinner  ;  but  if 


LILLIAN  MORRIS. 


143 


it  did,  the  heat  grew  so  terrible  that  the  air 
quivered  from  its  fervency,  and  all  at  once 
something  took  place  which  might  seem  a 
miracle. 

On  a  sudden  the  haze  and  smoke  parted, 
as  if  at  a  signal,  and  before  our  eyes  rose 
the  Sierra  Nevada,  green,  smiling,  wonderful, 
covered  with  gleaming  snow  on  the  summits, 
and  so  near  that  with  the  naked  eye  we  could 
see  the  dents  in  the  mountains,  the  green  lakes, 
and  the  forests.  It  seemed  to  us  that  a  fresh 
breeze  filled  with  odors  from  the  pitchy  fir  was 
coming  to  us  above  the  burnt  fields,  and  that 
in  a  few  hours  we  should  reach  the  fiowery 
foothills.  At  this  sight  the  people,  worn  out 
with  the  terrible  desert  and  with  labors,  went 
out  of  their  minds  almost  with  delight ;  some 
fell  on  the  ground  sobbing,  others  stretched 
forth  their  hands  toward  heaven  or  burst  into 
laughter,  others  grew  pale  without  power  to 
speak.  Lillian  and  I  wept  from  delight  too, 
which  in   me  was  mingled  with  astonishment, 


144  LILLIAN  MORRIS, 


for  I  had  thought  that  a  hundred  and  fifty 
miles  at  least  separated  us  yet  from  CaUfornia ; 
but  there  were  the  mountains  smihng  at  us 
across  the  burnt  plain,  and  they  seemed  to  ap- 
proach as  if  by  magic,  and  bend  toward  us  and 
invite  us  and  lure  us  on. 

The  hours  fixed  for  rest  had  not  passed'  yet, 
but  the  people  would  not  hear  of  a  longer 
halt.  Even  the  sick  stretched  out  their  yellow 
hands  from  beneath  the  canvas  roofs  and 
begged  us  to  harness  the  mules  and  drive  on. 
Briskly  and  willingly  we  moved  forward,  and  to 
the  biting  of  the  wheels  on  the  charred  earth 
were  joined  the  cracking  of  whips,  shouts,  and 
songs ;  of  driving  around  the  burnt  tract  there 
was  not  a  word  now.  Why  go  around  when 
a  few  tens  of  miles  farther  on  was  California 
and  its  marvellous  snowy  mountains  ?  We  went 
straight  across  toward  them. 

Meanwhile  the  smxoke  covered  the  bright  view 
from  us  again  with  a  wonderful  suddenness. 
Hours  passed ;  the  horizon  came  nearer.     At 


LILLIAN  MORRIS.  1 45 

last  the  sun  went  down ;  night  came.  The  stars 
twinkled  dimly  on  the  sky,  but  we  went  forward 
without  rest ;  still  the  mountains  were  evidently 
farther  than  they  seemed.  About  midnight  the 
mules  began  to  squeal  and  balk;  an  hour  later 
the  caravan  stopped,  for  the  greater  number  of 
the  beasts  had  lain  down.  The  men  tried  to 
raise  them,  but  there  was  no  chance  of  doing  so. 
Not  an  eye  closed  all  night.  At  the  first  rays 
of  light  our  glances  flew  eagerly  into  the  distance 
and  —  found  nothing.  A  dark  mourning  desert 
extended  as  far  as  the  eye  could  see,  monoto- 
nous, dull,  defining  itself  with  a  sharp  line  at 
the  horizon  ;  of  yesterday's  mountains  there  was 
not  a  trace. 

The  people  were  amazed.  To  me  the  omi- 
nous word  *•'  mirage  "  explained  everything,  but 
also  it  went  with  a  quiver  to  the  marrow  of  my 
bones.  What  was  to  be  done,  —  go  on?  But 
if  that  burnt  plain  extended  for  hundreds  of 
miles?  Return,  and  then  seek  some  miles  dis- 
tant the  end  of  the  burnt  tract  ?  —  but  had  the 


146  LILLIAN  MORRIS. 

mules  Strength  to  go  back  over  the  same  road? 
I  hardly  dared  to  look  to  the  bottom  of  that 
abyss,  on  the  brink  of  which  we  were  all  stand- 
ing. I  wished,  however,  to  know  what  course 
to  take.  I  mounted  my  horse,  moved  forward, 
and  from  a  neighboring  elevation  I  took  in  with 
my  eye  a  wider  horizon  with  the  aid  of  a  field- 
glass.  I  saw  in  the  distance  a  green  strip.  When 
I  reached  it,  however,  after  an  hour's  journey, 
the  place  turned  out  to  be  merely  a  lake  along 
the  bank  of  which  the  fire  had  not  destroyed 
vegetation  completely.  The  burnt  plain  ex- 
tended farther  than  vision  through  the  glass. 
There  was  no  help,  it  was  necessary  to  turn  back 
the  caravan  and  go  around  the  fire.  For  that 
purpose  I  turned  my  horse.  I  expected  to  find 
the  wagons  where  I  had  left  them,  for  I  had 
given  command  to  wait  for  me  there.  Mean- 
while, disobeying  my  command,  they  had  raised 
the  mules,  and  the  caravan  went  on.  To  my 
questions  they  answered  moodily  :  ^'  There  are 
the  mountains,  we  will  go  to  them." 


OF  TM£ 

UNIVERSITY 


LILLIAN  MORRIS.  147 

I  did  not  try  even  to  struggle,  for  I  saw  that 
there  was  no  human  power  present  to  stop  those 
men.  Perhaps  I  should  have  gone  back  alone 
with  Lillian,  but  my  wagon  was  not  there,  and 
Lillian  had  gone  on  with  Aunt  Atkins. 

We  advanced.  Night  came  again,  and  with 
it  a  forced  halt.  Out  of  the  burnt  plain 
rose  a  great  lurid  moon  and  lighted  the  dis- 
tance, which  was  equally  black.  In  the  morn- 
ing only  half  of  the  wagons  could  be  moved, 
for  the  mules  of  the  others  had  died.  The 
heat  of  that  day  was  dreadful.  The  sun's  rays, 
absorbed  by  the  charred  land,  filled  the  air 
with  fire.  On  the  road  one  of  the  sick  men 
expired  in  dreadful  convulsions,  and  no  one 
undertook  his  burial ;  we  laid  him  down  on  the 
plain  and  went  farther. 

The  water  in  the  lake  at  which  I  had  been 
the  day  before  refreshed  men  and  animals  for 
a  time,  but  could  not  restore  their  strength. 
The  mules  had  not  nipped  a  grass  blade  for 
thirty-six  hours,  and  had  lived  only  on  straw 


148     .  LILLIAN  MORRIS. 

which  we  took  out  of  the  wagons  ;  but  even  that 
failed  them  now.  We  marked  the  road  as  we 
went  with  their  bodies,  and  on  the  third  day 
there  was  left  one  only,  which  I  took  by  force 
for  Lillian.  The  wagons  and  the  tools  in  them, 
which  were  to  give  us  bread  in  California, 
remained  in  that  desert,  —  be  it  cursed  for  all 
ages  ! 

Every  one  now  except  LiUian  went  on  foot. 
Soon  a  new  enemy  looked  us  in  the  eyes,  — 
hunger.  A  part  of  our  provisions  had  been  left 
in  the  wagons,  that  which  each  one  could  carry 
was  eaten.  Meanwhile  there  was  not  a  living 
thing  in  the  country  around  us.  I  alone  in  the 
whole  caravan  had  biscuits  yet  and  a  piece  of 
salt  meat;  but  I  hid  them  for  Lillian,  and  I 
was  ready  to  rend  any  man  to  pieces  who 
would  mention  that  food.  I  ate  nothing  my- 
self, and  that  terrible  plain  stretched  on  with- 
out end. 

As  if  to  add  to  our  torments  the  mirage  ap- 
peared in  the  midday  hours  on  the  plain  again, 


LILLIAN  MORRIS.  1 49 

showing  us  mountains  and  forests  with  lakes  ;  but 
the  nights  were  more  terrible  than  ever.  All  the 
rays  which  that  charred  land  stole  from  the  sun 
in  the  daytime  came  out  at  night,  scorching 
our  feet  and  parching  our  throats.  On  such  a 
a  night  one  man  lost  his  mind,  and  sitting  on 
the  ground  burst  into  spasmodical  laughter, 
and  that  dreadful  laughter  followed  us  long  in 
the  darkness.  The  mule  on  which  Lillian  was 
riding  fell ;  the  famishing  people  tore  it  to 
bits  in  a  twinkle,  but  what  food  was  that  for 
two  hundred  ! 

The  fourth  day  passed  and  the  fifth.  From 
hunger,  the  faces  of  the  people  became  like 
those  of  birds  of  some  kind,  and  they  began  to 
look  with  hate  at  one  another.  They  knew 
that  I  had  provisions ;  but  they  knew,  too,  that 
to  ask  one  crumb  of  me  was  death,  hence  the 
instinct  of  life  overcame  in  them  hunger.  I 
gave  food  to  Lillian  only  at  night,  so  as  not  to 
enrage  them  with  the  sight  of  it.  She  implored 
me  by  all  that  was  holy  to  take  my  share,  but 


150  LILLIAN  MORRIS, 

I  threatened  to  put  a  bullet  in  my  brain  if  she 
even  mentioned  it.  She  was  able,  however,  to 
steal  from  my  watchfulness  crumbs  which  she 
gave  to  Aunt  Atkins  and  Aunt  Grosvenor.  At 
that  time  hunger  was  tearing  my  entrails  with 
iron  hand,  and  my  head  was  burning  from  the 
wound. 

For  five  days  there  had  been  nothing  in  my 
mouth  but  water  from  that  lake.  The  thought 
that  I  was  carrying  bread  and  meat,  that  I  had 
them  with  me,  that  I  could  eat,  became  a  tor- 
ture ;  I  was  afraid  besides,  that  being  wounded, 
I  might  go  mad  and  seize  the  food. 

"  O  Lord  !  "  cried  I  in  spirit,  "  suffer  me  not 
to  become  so  far  brutalized  as  to  touch  that 
which  is  to  keep  her  in  life  !  "  But  there  was 
no  mercy  above  me.  On  the  morning  of  the 
sixth  day  I  saw  on  Lillian's  face  fiery  spots ; 
her  hands  were  inflamed,  she  panted  loudly. 
All  at  once  she  looked  at  me  wanderingly, 
and  said  in  haste,  hurrying  lest  she  might  lose 
presence  of  mind,  — 


LILLIAN  MORRIS. 


'S^ 


**  Ralph,  leave  me  here  ;  save  yourself,  there 
is  no  hope  for  me." 

I  gritted  my  teeth,  for  I  wanted  to  howl  and 
blaspheme ;  but  saying  nothing  I  took  her  by 
the  hands.  Fiery  zigzags  began  to  leap  before 
my  eyes  in  the  air,  and  to  form  the  words  : 
"  Who  worshipped  and  served  the  creature 
more  than  the  Creator?"  I  had  broken  like 
a  bow  too  much  bent ;  so,  staring  at  the  merci- 
less heavens,  I  exclaimed  with  my  whole  soul 
in  rebellion,  — 

"  1  !  " 

Meanwhile  I  was  bearing  to  the  mount  of 
execution  my  dearest  burden,  this  my  only  one, 
my  saint,  my  beloved  martyr. 

I  know  not  where  I  found  strength ;  I  was 
insensible  to  hunger,  to  heat,  to  suffering.  I 
saw  nothing  before  me,  neither  people  nor  the 
burning  plain ;  I  saw  nothing  but  Lillian.  That 
night  she  grew  worse.  She  lost  consciousness  ; 
at  times  she  groaned  in  a  low  voice,  — 

"  Ralph,  water  !  "  And  oh,  torments  !     I  had 


152  LILLIA  N  MORRIS. 

only  salt  meat  and  dry  biscuits.  In  supreme 
despair  I  cut  my  arm  with  a  knife  to  moisten 
her  lips  with  my  blood;  she  grew  conscious, 
cried  out,  and  fell  into  a  protracted  faint,  from 
which  I  thought  she  would  not  recover.  When 
she  came  to  herself  she  wished  to  say  some- 
thing, but  the  fever  had  blunted  her  mind,  and 
she  only  murmured,  — 

*^  Ralph,  be  not  angry  !     I  am  your  wife." 

I  carried  her  farther  in  silence.  I  had  grown 
stupid  from  pain. 

The  seventh  day  came.  The  Sierra  Nevada 
appeared  at  last  on  the  horizon,  and  as  the  sun 
was  going  down  the  life  of  my  life  began  to 
quench  also.  When  she  was  dying  I  placed 
her  on  the  burnt  ground  and  knelt  beside  her. 
Her  widely  opened  eyes  were  gleaming  and 
fixed  on  me ;  thought  appeared  in  them  for 
a    moment,   and  she  whispered,  — 

"My  dear,  my  husband!"  Then  a  quiver 
ran  through  her,  fear  was  on  her  face,  —  and 
she  died. 


LILLIAN  MORRIS.  1 53 

I  tore  the  bandages  from  my  head,  and  lost 
consciousness.  I  have  no  memory  of  what  hap- 
pened after  that.  As  in  a  kind  of  dream  I 
remember  people  who  surrounded  me  and  took 
my  weapons  ;  then  they  dug  a  grave,  as  it  were  ; 
and,  still  later,  darkness  and  raving  seized  me, 
and  in  them  the  fiery  words :  "  Who  wor- 
shipped and  served  the  creature  more  than  the 
Creator !  " 

I  woke  a  month  later  in  California  at  the 
house  of  Moshynski,  a  settler.  When  I  had 
come  to  health  somewhat  I  set  out  for  Nevada ; 
the  prairie  had  grown  over  again  with  grass, 
and  was  abundantly  green,  so  that  I  could  not 
find  even  her  grave,  and  to  this  day  I  know  not 
where  her  sacred  remains  are  lying.  What 
have  I  done,  O  God,  that  Thou  didst  turn  Thy 
face  from  me  and  forget  me  in  the  desert  ?  —  I 
know  not.  Were  it  permitted  me  to  weep  even 
one  hour  at  her  grave,  life  would  be  easier. 
Every  year  I   go  to  Nevada,  and  every  year  I 


154  LILLIAN  MORRIS. 

seek  in  vain.  Since  those  dreadful  hours  long 
years  have  passed.  My  wretched  Hps  have 
uttered  more  than  once,  Let  Thy  will  be  done  ! 
But  without  her  it  is  hard  for  me  in  the  world. 
A  man  lives  and  walks  among  people,  and 
laughs  even  at  times ;  but  the  lonely  old  heart 
weeps  and  loves,  and  yearns  and  remembers. 

I  am  old,  and  it  is  not  long  till  I  shall  make 
another  journey,  the  journey  to  eternity;  and 
for  one  thing  alone  I  ask  God,  —  that  on  those 
celestial  plains  I  may  find  my  heavenly  one, 
and  not  part  from  her  ever  again. 


^AeHEAv 


T  N  the  town  of  Antelope,  situated  on  a  river 
of  the  same  name  in  the  State  of  Texas, 
every  Hving  person  was  hurrying  to  the  circus. 
The  inhabitants  w^ere  interested  all  the  more 
since  from  the  foundation  of  the  town  that 
was  the  first  time  that  a  circus  had  come  to 
it  with  dancing  women,  minstrels,  and  rope- 
walkers.  The  town  was  recent.  Fifteen  years 
before  not  only  was  there  not  one  house  there, 
but  in  all  the  region  round  about  there  were 
no  white  people.  Moreover,  on  the  forks  of 
the  river,  on  the  very  spot  on  which  Antelope 
was   situated,  stood   an    Indian  village   called 


158  SACHEM. 


Chiavatta.  That  had  been  the  capital  of  the 
Black  Snakes,  who  in  their  time  were  such 
an  eyesore  to  the  neighboring  settlements  of 
Berlin,  Griindenau,  and  Harmonia,  that  these 
settlements  could  endure  them  no  longer. 
True,  the  Indians  were  only  defending  their 
''  land,"  which  the  State  government  of  Texas 
had  guaranteed  to  them  forever  by  the 
most  solemn  treaties;  but  what  was  that  to 
the  colonists  of  Berlin,  Griindenau,  and  Har- 
monia?  It  is  true  that  they  took  from  the 
Black  Snakes  earth,  air,  and  water,  but  they 
brought  in  civilization  in  return  ;  the  redskins 
on  their  part  showed  gratitude  in  their  own 
way,  —  that  is,  by  taking  scalps  from  the  heads  ^ 
of  the  Germans.  Such  a  state  of  things  could 
not  be  suffered.  Therefore,  the  settlers  from 
Berlin,  Griindenau,  and  Harmonia  assembled 
on  a  certain  moonlight  night  to  the  number 
of  four  hundred,  and,  calling  to  their  aid 
Mexicans  from  La  Ora,  fell  upon  sleeping 
Chiavatta. 


SACHEM.  159 


The  triumph  of  the  good  cause  was  per- 
fect. Chiavatta  was  burned  to  ashes,  and  the 
inhabitants-,  without  regard  to  sex  or  age, 
were  cut  to  pieces.  Only  small  parties  of  war- 
riors escaped  who  at  that  time  were  absent 
on  a  hunt.  In  the  town  itself  not  one  soul 
was  left  living,  mainly  because  the  place  lay  in 
the  forks  of  a  river,  which,  having  overflowed, 
as  is  usual  in  spring-time,  surrounded  the  settle- 
ment with  an  impassable  gulf  of  waters.  But 
the  same  forked  position  which  ruined  the 
Indians,  seemed  good  to  the  Germans.  From 
the  forks  it  was  difficult  to  escape,  but  the 
place  was  defensible.  Thanks  to  this  thought, 
emigration  set  in  at  once  from  Berlin,  Grlin- 
denau,  and  Harmonia  to  the  forks,  in  which  in 
the  twinkle  of  an  eye,  on  the  site  of  the  wild 
Chiavatta,  rose  the  civilized  town  of  Antelope. 
In  five  years  it  numbered  two  thousand  in- 
habitants. 

In  the  sixth  year  they  discovered  on  the 
opposite  bank  of  the  forks  a  quicksilver  mine ; 


l6o  SACHEM. 


the  working  of  this  doubled  the  number  of 
inhabitants.  In  the  seventh  year,  by  virtue  of 
Lynch  law,  they  hanged  on  the  square  of  the 
town  the  last  twelve  warriors  of  the  Black 
Snakes,  who  were  caught  in  the  neighboring 
"  Forest  of  the  Dead,"  —  and  henceforth  noth- 
ing remained  to  hinder  the  development  of  An- 
telope. Two  *'  Tagblatter  "  (daily  papers)  were 
published  in  the  town,  and  one  "  Montagsrevue  " 
(Monday  Review).  A  line  of  railroad  united 
the  place  with  Rio  del  Norte  and  San  Antonio ; 
on  Opuncia  Gasse  (Opuncia  Street)  stood 
three  schools,  one  of  which  was  a  high  school. 
On  the  square  where  they  had  hanged  the  last 
Black  Snakes,  the  citizens  had  erected  a 
philanthropic  institution.  Every  Sunday  the 
pastors  taught  in  the  churches  love  of  one's 
neighbor,  respect  for  the  property  of  others, 
and  similar  virtues  essential  to  a  civilized 
society;  a  certain  travelling  lecturer  read  a 
dissertation  ''  On  the  rights  of  nations." 
The    richest    inhabitants  had    begun  to  talk 


SA  CHEM.  T  6 1 


of  founding  a  university,  to  which  the  govern- 
ment of  the  State  was  to  contribute.  The 
citizens  were  prosperous.  The  trade  in  quick- 
silver, oranges,  barley,  and  wine  brought  them 
famous  profits.  They  were  upright,  thrifty, 
industrious,  systematic,  fat.  Whoever  might 
visit  in  later  years  Antelope  with  a  popula- 
tion nearing  twenty  thousand  would  not  rec- 
ognize in  the  rich  merchants  of  the  place 
those  pitiless  warriors  who  fifteen  years  before 
had  burned  Chiavatta.  The  days  passed  for 
them  in  their  stores,  workshops,  and  offices; 
the  evenings  they  spent  in  the  beer-saloon 
"Golden  Sun"  on  Rattlesnake  Street.  Lis- 
tening to  those  sounds  somewhat  slow  and 
guttural  of  "  Mahlzeit,  Mahlzeit !  "  (meal- 
time, meal-time),  to  those  phlegmatic  "Nun  ja 
wissen  Sie,  Herr  Mliller,  ist  das  aber  moglich?  " 
(Well,  now,  Herr  Mliller,  but  is  that  possible?), 
that  clatter  of  goblets,  that  sound  of  beer 
dropping  on  the  floor,  that  plash  of  over- 
flowing  foam  J    seeing    that    calm,    that    slow- 


1 62  SACHEM. 


ness,  those  Philistine  faces  covered  with  fat, 
those  fishy  eyes,  —  a  man  might  suppose  him- 
self in  a  beer-garden  in  Berlin  or  Mona- 
chium,  and  not  on  the  ruins  of  Chiavatta. 
But  in  the  town  everything  was  '^  ganz  gemlith- 
lich"  (altogether  cosey),  and  no  one  had  a 
thought  of  the  ruins.  That  evening  the  whole 
population  was  hastening  to  the  circus,  first, 
because  after  hard  labor  recreation  is  as 
praiseworthy  as  it  is  agreeable ;  second,  be- 
cause the  inhabitants  were  proud  of  its 
arrival.  It  is  well-known  that  circuses  do 
not  come  to  every  little  place ;  hence  the 
arrival  of  the  Hon.  M.  Dean's  troupe  had 
confirmed  the  greatness  and  magnificence  of 
Antelope.  There  was,  however,  a  third  and 
perhaps  the  greatest  cause  of  the  general 
curiosity. 

No.  Two  of  the  programme  read  as  follows  : 

"  A  walk  on  a  wire  extended  fifteen  feet  above 
the  ground  will  be  made  to  the  accompaniment  of 
music  by  the   renowned  gymnast  Black  Vulture, 


SACHEM.  163 


sachem  of  the  Black  Snakes,  the  last  descendant 
of  their  chiefs,  the  last  man  of  the  tribe,  i.  The 
walk ;  2.  Springs  of  the  Antelope ;  3.  The  death- 
dance  and  death-song." 

If  that  "  sachem "  could  rouse  the  highest 
interest  in  any  place,  it  was  surely  in  Ante- 
lope. Hon.  M.  Dean  told  at  the  "  Golden 
Sun"  how  fifteen  years  before,  on  a  journey 
to  Santa  F^,  he  had  found,  on  the  Pianos  de 
Tornado,  a  dying  old  Indian  with  a  boy  ten 
years  of  age.  The  old  man  died  from  wounds 
and  exhaustion ;  but  before  death  he  declared 
that  the  boy  was  the  son  of  the  slain  sachem 
of  the  Black  Snakes,  and  the  heir  to  that 
office. 

The  troupe  sheltered  the  orphan,  who  in  time 
became  the  first  acrobat  in  it.  It  was  only  at 
the  "  Golden  Sun,"  however,  that  Hon.  M. 
Dean  learned  first  that  Antelope  was  once 
Chiavatta,  and  that  the  famous  rope-walker 
would  exhibit  himself  on  the  grave  of  his 
fathers.     This  information  brought  the  director 


164  SACHEM. 


into  perfect  humor;  he  might  reckon  now 
surely  on  a  great  attraction,  if  only  he  knew 
how  to  bring  out  the  effect  skilfully.  Of 
course  the  Philistines  of  Antelope  hurried  to 
the  circus  to  show  their  wives  and  children, 
imported  from  Germany,  the  last  of  the  Black 
Snakes,  —  those  wives  and  children  who  in  their 
lives  had  never  seen  Indians,  —  and  to  say : 
"  See,  we  cut  to  pieces  men  just  like  that  fellow, 
fifteen  years  ago  !  '*  "  Ach,  Herr  Je  !  "  It  was 
pleasant  to  hear  such  an  exclamation  of  wonder 
from  the  mouth  of  Amalchen,  or  little  Fritz. 
Throughout  the  town,  therefore,  all  were  re- 
peating unceasingly,  "  Sachem  !    Sachem  !  " 

From  early  morning  the  children  were  look- 
ing through  cracks  in  the  boards  with  curious 
and  astonished  faces ;  the  older  boys,  more  ex- 
cited by  the  warrior  spirit,  marched  home  from 
school  in  terrible  array,  without  knowing  them- 
selves why  they  did  so. 

It  is  eight  o'clock  in  the  evening,  —  a  wonder- 
ful  night,    clear,    starry.     A   breeze   from    the 


SACHEM,  165 


suburbs  brings  the  odor  of  orange  groves,  which 
in  the  town  is  mingled  with  the  odor  of  malt. 
In  the  circus  there  is  a  blaze  of  light.  Immense 
pine-torches  fixed  before  the  principal  gate  are 
burning  and  smoking.  The  breeze  waves  the 
plumes  of  smoke  and  the  bright  flame  which 
illuminates  the  dark  outlines  of  the  building.  It 
is  a  freshly  erected  wooden  pile,  circular,  with  a 
pointed  roof,  and  the  starry  flag  of  America  on 
the  summit  of  it.  Before  the  gate  are  crowds 
who  could  not  get  tickets  or  had  not  the  where- 
withal to  buy  them;  they  look  at  the  wagons 
of  the  troupe,  and  principally  at  the  canvas 
curtain  of  the  great  Eastern  door,  on  which  is 
depicted  a  battle  of  the  whites  with  the  redskins. 
At  moments  when  the  curtain  is  drawn  aside 
the  bright  refreshment-bar  within  is  visible,  with 
its  hundreds  of  glasses  on  the  table.  Now  they 
draw  aside  the  curtain  for  good,  and  the  throng 
enters.  The  empty  passages  between  the  seats 
begin  to  resound  with  the  steps  of  people,  and 
soon  the  dark  moving  mass  fills  all  the  place 


1 66  SACHEM. 


from  the  highest  point  to  the  floor.  It  is  clear 
as  day  in  the  circus,  for  though  they  had  not 
been  able  to  bring  in  gas  pipes,  a  gigantic  chan- 
delier formed  of  fifty  kerosene  lamps  takes  its 
place.  In  those  gleams  are  visible  the  heads 
of  the  beer  drinkers,  fleshy,  thrown  back  to  give 
room  to  their  chins,  the  youthful  faces  of  women, 
and  the  pretty,  wondering  visages  of  children, 
whose  eyes  are  almost  coming  out  of  their  heads 
from  curiosity.  But  all  the  spectators  have  the 
curious,  self-satisfied  look  that  is  usual  in  an 
audience  at  a  circus.  Amid  the  hum  of  con- 
versation interrupted  by  cries  of  "  Frisch 
wasser !  frisch  wasser ! "  (fresh  water),  all 
await  the  beginning  with  impatience. 

At  last  a  bell  sounds,  six  grooms  appear  in 
shining  boots,  and  stand  in  two  ranks  at  the 
passage  from  the  stables  to  the  arena.  Between 
those  ranks  a  furious  horse  rushes  forth,  without 
bridle  or  saddle ;  and  on  him,  as  it  were  a 
bundle  of  mushn  ribbons  and  tulle,  is  the  dancer 
Lina.     They  begin  manoeuvring  to   the   sound 


SACHEM.  167 


of  music.  Lina  is  so  pretty  that  young  Matilda, 
daughter  of  the  brewer  on  Opuncia  Gasse, 
alarmed  at  sight  of  her  beauty,  inclines  to  the 
ear  of  Floss,  a  young  grocer  from  the  same 
street,  and  asks  in  a  whisper  if  he  loves  her  yet. 
Meanwhile  the  horse  gallops,  and  puffs  like  an 
engine ;  the  clowns,  a  number  of  whom  run  after 
the  dancer,  crack  whips,  shout,  and  strike  one 
another  on  the  faces.  The  dancer  vanishes 
like  lightning;  there  is  a  storm  of  applause. 
What  a  splendid  representation  !  But  No.  One 
passes  quickly.  No.  Two  is  approaching.  The 
word  *'  Sachem  !  sachem  !  "  flies  from  mouth  to 
mouth  among  the  spectators.  No  one  gives  a 
thought  now  to  the  clowns,  who  strike  one 
another  continually.  In  the  midst  of  the  apish 
movements  of  the  clowns,  the  grooms  bring 
lofty  wooden  trestles  several  yards  in  height,  and 
put  them  on  both  sides  of  the  arena.  The  band 
ceases  to  play  Yankee  Doodle,  and  gives  the 
gloomy  aria  of  the  Coramandore  in  Don  Juan. 
They  extend  the  wire  from  one  trestle  to  the 


1 68  SACHEM. 


Other.  AH  at  once  a  shower  of  red  Bengal 
Hght  falls  at  the  passage,  and  covers  the  whole 
arena  with  a  bloody  glare.  In  that  glare 
appears  the  terrible  sachem,  the  last  of  the 
Black  Snakes.  But  what  is  that  ?  The  sachem 
is  not  there,  but  the  manager  of  the  troupe 
himself,  Hon.  M.  Dean.  He  bows  to  the  public 
and  raises  his  voice.  He  has  the  honor  to  beg 
"  the  kind  and  respected  gentlemen,  as  well  as 
the  beautiful  and  no  less  respected  ladies,  to  be 
unusually  calm,  give  no  applause,  and  remain 
perfectly  still,  for  the  chief  is  excited  and  wilder 
than  usual."  These  words  produce  no  little 
impression,  and  —  a  wonderful  thing  !  —  those 
very  citizens  of  Antelope  who  fifteen  years  before 
had  destroyed  Chiavatta,  feel  now  some  sort 
of  very  unpleasant  sensation.  A  moment  be- 
fore, when  the  beautiful  Lina  was  performing 
her  springs  on  horseback,  they  were  glad  to  be 
sitting  so  near,  right  there  close  to  the  parapet, 
whence  they  could  see  everything  so  well ;  and 
now  they  look  with  a  certain  longing  for  the 


SACHEM.  169 


upper  seats  of  the  circus,  and  in  spite  of  all  laws 
of  physics,  find  that  the  lower  they  are  the  more 
stifling  it  is. 

But  could  that  sachem  remember?  He  was 
reared  from  years  of  childhood  in  the  troupe  of 
Hon.  M.  Dean,  composed  mainly  of  Germans. 
Had  he  not  forgotten  everything  ?  This  seemed 
probable.  His  environment  and  fifteen  years 
of  a  circus  career,  the  exhibition  of  his  art,  the 
winning  of  applause,  must  have  exerted  their 
influence. 

Chiavatta,  Chiavatta !  But  they  are  Ger- 
mans, they  are  on  their  own  soil,  and  think  no 
more  of  the  fatherland  than  business  permits. 
Above  all,  man  must  eat  and  drink.  This  truth 
every  Philistine  must  keep  in  mind,  as  well  as 
the  last  of  the  Black  Snakes. 

These  meditations  are  interrupted  suddenly 
by  a  certain  wild  whistle  in  the  stables,  and  on 
the  arena  appears  the  sachem  expected  so  anx- 
iously. A  brief  murmur  of  the  crowd  is  heard  : 
"That  is  he,  that  is  he  !  "  — and  then  silence. 


170  SACHEM, 


But  there  is  hissing  from  Bengal  lights,  which 
burn  continually  at  the  passage.  All  eyes  are 
turned  toward  the  chief,  who  in  the  circus  will 
appear  on  the  graves  of  his  fathers.  The  Indian 
deserves  really  that  men  should  look  at  him. 
He  seems  as  haughty  as  a  king.  A  mantle  of 
white  ermine  —  the  mark  of  his  chieftainship  — 
covers  his  figure,  which  is  lofty,  and  so  wild  that 
it  brings  to  mind  a  badly  tamed  jaguar.  He 
has  a  face  as  it  were  forged  out  of  bronze,  like 
the  head  of  an  eagle,  and  in  his  face  there  is  a 
cold  gleam ;  his  eyes  are  genuinely  Indian,  calm, 
indifferent  as  it  were,  —  and  ominous.  He 
glances  around  on  the  assembly,  as  if  wishing 
to  choose  a  victim.  Moreover,  he  is  armed 
from  head  to  foot.  On  his  head  plumes  are 
waving,  at  his  girdle  he  has  an  ax  and  a  knife 
for  scalping  ;  but  in  his  hand,  instead  of  a  bow, 
he  holds  a  long  staff  to  preserve  his  balance 
when  walking  on  the  wire.  Standing  in  the 
middle  of  the  arena  he  gives  forth  on  a  sud- 
den a  war  cry.     Herr  Gott !     That  is  the  cry 


SA  CHEM  171 


of  the  Black  Snakes.  Those  who  massacred 
Chiavatta  remember  clearly  that  terrible  howl, 
—  and  what  is  most  wonderful,  those  who  fif- 
teen years  before  had  no  fear  of  one  thousand 
such  warriors  are  sweating  now  before  one. 
But  behold  !  the  director  approaches  the  chief 
and  says  something  to  him,  as  if  to  pacify  and 
calm  him.  The  wild  beast  feels  the  bit ;  the 
words  have  their  influence,  for  after  a  time 
the  sachem  is  swaying  on  the  wire.  With 
eyes  fixed  on  the  kerosene  chandelier  he  ad- 
vances. The  wire  bends  much ;  at  moments 
it  is  not  visible,  and  then  the  Indian  seems 
suspended  in  space.  He  is  walking  as  it  were 
upward;  he  advances,  retreats,  and  again  he 
advances,  maintaining  his  balance.  His  ex- 
tended arms  covered  with  the  mantle  seem 
like  great  wings.  He  totters  !  he  is  falling  !  — 
No.  A  short  interrupted  bravo  begins  hke 
a  storm  and  stops.  The  face  of  the  chief  be- 
comes more  and  more  threatening.  In  his 
gaze  fixed  on  the  kerosene  lamps  is  gleaming 


172  SA  CHEM. 


some  terrible  light.  There  is  alarm  in  the 
circus,  but  no  one  breaks  the  silence.  Mean- 
while the  sachem  approaches  the  end  of  the 
wire,  stops;  all  at  once  a  war-song  bursts 
forth  from  his  lips. 

A  strange  thing  !  The  chief  sings  in  German. 
But  that  is  easy  to  understand.  Surely  he  has 
forgotten  the  tongue  of  the  Black  Snakes. 
Moreover,  no  one  notices  that.  All  listen  to 
the  song,  which  rises  and  grows  in  volume. 
It  is  a  half  chant,  a  kind  of  half  call,  im- 
measurably plaintive,  wild,  and  hoarse,  full  of 
sounds  of  attack. 

The  following  words  were  heard  :  "  After  the 
great  yearly  rains,  five  hundred  warriors  went 
from  Chiavatta  on  the  war-path  or  to  the 
spring  hunts ;  when  they  came  back  from  war 
they  brought  scalps,  when  they  came  back 
from  the  hunt  they  brought  flesh  and  the  skins 
of  buffaloes ;  their  wives  met  them  with  glad- 
ness, and  they  danced  in  honor  of  the  Great 
Spirit. 


SACHEM.  173 


"  Chiavatta  was  happy.  The  women  worked 
in  the  wigwams,  the  children  grew  up  to  be 
beautiful  maidens,  to  be  brave,  fearless  war- 
riors. The  warriors  died  on  the  field  of  glory, 
and  went  to  the  silver  mountains  to  hunt  with 
the  ghosts  of  their  fathers.  Their  axes  were 
never  dipped  in  the  blood  of  women  and  chil- 
dren, for  the  warriors  of  Chiavatta  were  high- 
minded.  Chiavatta  was  powerful ;  but  pale-faces 
came  from  beyond  distant  waters  and  set  fire  to 
Chiavatta.  The  white  warriors  did  not  destroy 
the  Black  Snakes  in  battle,  but  they  stole  in  as 
do  jackals  at  night,  they  buried  their  knives 
in  the  bosoms  of  sleeping  men,  women,  and 
children. 

'*  Now  there  is  no  Chiavatta.  In  place  of  it 
the  white  men  have  raised  their  stone  wigwams. 
The  murdered  nation  and  ruined  Chiavatta  cry 
out  for  vengeance.'' 

The  voice  of  the  chief  became  hoarse. 
Standing  on  the  wire,  he  seemed  a  red  arch- 
angel of  vengeance  floating  above  the   heads 


I  74  SA  CHEM. 


of  that  throng  of  people.  Evidently  the  direc- 
tor himself  was  afraid.  A  silence  as  of  death 
settled  down  in  the  circus.  The  chief  howled 
on,  — 

^*  Of  the  whole  nation  there  remained  only 
one  little  child.  He  was  weak  and  small,  but 
he  swore  to  the  spirit  of  the  earth  that  he 
would  have  vengeance,  —  that  he  would  see 
the  corpses  of  white  men,  women,  and  children, 
that  he  would  see  fire  and  blood." 

The  last  words  were  changed  into  a  bellow 
of  fury.  In  the  circus  murmurs  were  heard  like 
the  sudden  puffs  of  a  whirlwind.  Thousands  of 
questions  without  answer  came  to  men's  minds. 
What  will  he  do,  that  mad  tiger  ?  What  is  he 
announcing  ?  How  will  he  accomplish  his  ven- 
geance, —  he  alone  ?  Will  he  stay  here  or 
flee?  Will  he  defend  himself,  and  how?  "Was 
ist  das,  was  ist  das?''  is  heard  in  the  ter- 
rified accents  of  women. 

All  at  once  an  unearthly  howl  was  rent  from 
the  breast  of  the  chief.     The  wire  swayed  vio- 


SACHEM.  175 


lently,  he  sprang  to  the  wooden  trestle,  stand- 
ing at  the  chandeHer,  and  raised  his  staff.  A 
terrible  thought  flew  like  a  flash  through  all 
heads.  He  will  hurl  around  the  lamps  and  fill 
the  circus  with  torrents  of  flaming  kerosene. 
From  the  breasts  of  the  spectators  one  shout 
was  just  rising ;  but  what  do  they  see  ?  From 
the  arena  the  cry  comes,  *'  Stop  !  stop  !  '*  The 
chief  is  gone  !  Has  he  jumped  down  ?  He  has 
gone  through  the  entrance  without  firing  the 
circus !  Where  is  he  ?  See,  he  is  coming, 
coming  a  second  time,  panting,  tired,  terrible. 
In  his  hand  is  a  pewter  plate,  and  extending  it 
to  the  spectators,  he  calls  in  a  voice  of  en- 
treaty :  "  Was  gefallig  fur  den  letzten  der 
Schwarzen  Schlangen?"  (What  will  you  give 
to  the  last  of  the  Black  Snakes  ?) 

A  stone  falls  from  the  breasts  of  the  specta- 
tors. You  see  that  was  all  in  the  programme, 
it  was  a  trick  of  the  director  for  effect.  The 
dollars  and  half  dollars  came  down  in  a  shower. 
How  could  they  say  "  No  "  to  the  last  of  the 


176  SACHEM. 


Black  Snakes,  in  Antelope   reared  on  the  ruins 
of  Chiavatta  ?     People  have  hearts. 

After  the  exhibition,  the  sachem  drank  beer 
and  ate  dumplings  at  the  *^  Golden  Sun."  His 
environment  had  exerted  its  influence,  evi- 
dently. He  found  great  popularity  in  Antelope, 
especially  with  the  women,  —  there  was  even 
scandal  about  him. 


A  VILLAGE 
•SKETCH 


A  VILLAGE  SKETCH 


°L  (ANGEL)' 


TN  the  little  town  of  Lupiskory,  after  the 
^  funeral  of  widow  Kaliksta,  there  were 
vespers,  and  after  vespers  old  women,  between 
ten  and  twenty  in  number,  remained  in  the 
church  to  finish  the  hymn.  It  was  four  o'clock 
in  the  afternoon ;  but,  since  twilight  comes  in 
winter  about  that  hour,  it  was  dark  in  the 
church.     The  great  altar,  especially,  was  sunk 

'  1  The  Polish  word  for  angel  is  am'o/y  distorted  by  the 
old  woman  into  Jamiol,  which  is  pronounced  _y^w>'^/. 


l8o  YAMVOL. 


in  deep  shade.  Only  two  candles  were  burn- 
ing at  the  ciborium ;  their  flickering  flames 
barely  lighted  a  little  the  gilding  of  the  doors, 
and  the  feet  of  Christ,  hanging  on  a  cross 
higher  up.  Those  feet  were  pierced  with  an 
enormous  nail,  and  the  head  of  that  nail 
seemed  a  great  point  gleaming  on  the  altar. 

From  other  candles,  just  quenched,  streaks 
of  smoke  were  waving,  filling  the  places  behind 
the  stalls  with  a  purely  church  odor  of  wax. 

An  old  man  and  a  small  boy  were  busied 
before  the  steps  of  the  altar.  One  was  sweep- 
ing ;  the  other  was  stretching  the  carpet  on  the 
steps.  At  moments,  when  the  women  ceased 
their  singing,  either  the  angry  whisper  of  the 
old  man  was  heard  scolding  the  boy,  or  the 
hammering  on  the  snow-covered  windows  of 
sparrows  that  were  cold  and  hungry  outside. 

The  women  were  sitting  on  benches  nearer 
the  door.  It  would  have  been  still  darker  had 
it  not  been  for  a  few  tallow  candles,  by  the 
light    of  which    those    who    had    prayer-books 


VAMVOL,  l8l 


were  reading.  One  of  those  candles  lighted 
well  enough  a  banner  fastened  to  the  seat  just 
beyond ;  the  banner  represented  sinners  sur- 
rounded by  devils  and  flames.  It  was  impos- 
sible to  see  what  was  painted  on  the  other 
banners. 

*The  women  were  not  singing;  they  were, 
rather,  muttering  with  sleepy  and  tired  voices 
a  hymn  in  which  these  words  were  repeated 
continually,  — 

"  And  when  the  hour  of  death  comes, 
Gain  for  us,  gain  from  Thy  Son." 

That  church  buried  in  shadow,  the  banners 
standing  at  the  seats,  the  old  women  with  their 
yellow  faces,  the  lights  flickering  as  if  op- 
pressed by  the  gloom,  —  all  that  was  dismal 
beyond  expression ;  nay,  it  was  simply  terrible. 
The  mournful  words  of  the  song  about  death 
found  there  a  fitting  background. 

After  a  time  the  singing  stopped.     One  of 
the  women  stood  up  at  the  seat,  and  began  to 


1 82  VAMVOL, 


say,  with  a  trembling  voice,  "  Hail,  Mary,  full 
of  grace  !  '*  And  others  responded,  *'  The  Lord 
is  with  Thee,"  etc. ;  but  since  it  was  the  day 
of  Kaliksta's  funeral,  each  "  Hail,  Mary,"  con- 
cluded with  the  words,  '^  Lord,  grant  her  eter- 
nal rest,  and  may  endless  light  shine  on  her  ! " 
Marysia,  the  dead  woman's  daughter,  was 
sitting  on  a  bench  at  the  side  of  one  of  the 
old  women.  Just  then  the  snow,  soft  and 
noiseless,  was  falling  on  the  fresh  grave  of  her 
mother ;  but  the  little  girl  was  not  ten  years 
old  yet,  and  seemed  not  to  understand  either 
her  loss,  or  the  pity  which  it  might  rouse  in 
another.  Her  face,  with  large  blue  eyes,  had 
in  it  the  calmness  of  childhood,  and  even  a 
certain  careless  repose.  A  little  curiosity  was 
evident,  —  nothing  beyond  that.  Opening  her 
mouth,  she  looked  with  great  attention  at  the 
banner  on  which  was  painted  hell  with  sin- 
ners ;  then  she  looked  into  the  depth  of  the 
church,  and  afterward  on  the  window  at  which 
the  sparrows  were  hammering. 


YAMVOL.  183" 


Her  eyes  remained  without  thought.  Mean- 
while, the  women  began  to  mutter,  sleepily,  for 
the  tenth  time,  — 

"  And  when  the  hour  of  death  comes." 

The  little  girl  twisted  the  tresses  of  her  light- 
colored  hair,  woven  into  two  tiny  braids  not 
thicker  than  mice  tails.  She  seemed  tired ; 
but  now  the  old  man  occupied  her  attention. 
He  went  to  the  middle  of  the  church,  and 
began  to  pull  a  knotty  rope  hanging  from  the 
ceiling.  He  was  ringing  for  the  soul  of 
Kaliksta,  but  he  did  this  in  a  purely  mechani- 
cal manner;  he  was  thinking,  evidently,  of 
something  else. 

That  ringing  was  also  a  sign  that  vespers 
were  ended.  The  women,  after  repeating  for 
the  last  time  the  prayer  for  a  happy  death, 
went  out  on  the  square.  One  of  them  led 
Marysia  by  the  hand. 

''  But,  Kulik,"  asked  another,  "  what  will 
you  do  with  the  girl?*' 


184  VAMVOL. 


"  What  will  I  do  ?  She  will  go  to  Leschyntsi. 
Voytek  Margula  will  take  her.  But  why  do 
you  ask  me?  ^' 

"What  will  she  do  in  Leschyntsi?" 

"  My  dears,  the  same  as  here.  Let  her  go 
to  where  she  came  from.  Even  at  the  man- 
sion they  will  take  in  the  orphan,  and  let  her 
sleep  in  the  kitchen." 

Thus  conversing,  they  passed  through  the 
square  to  the  inn.  Darkness  was  increasing 
every  moment.  It  was  wintry,  calm ;  the  sky 
was  covered  with  clouds,  the  air  filled  with 
moisture  and  wet  snow.  Water  was  dropping 
from  the  roofs ;  on  the  square  lay  slush  formed 
of  snow  and  straw.  The  village,  with  wretched 
and  tattered  houses,  looked  as  gloomy  as  the 
church.  A  few  windows  were  gleaming  with 
light ;  movement  had  ceased,  but  in  the  inn 
an  organ  was  playing. 

It  was  playing  to  entice,  for  there  was  no 
one  inside.  The  women  entered,  drank  vodka ; 
Kulik  gave  Marysia  half  a  glass,  saying,  — 


YAMYOL.  185 


"  Drink  !  Thou  art  an  orphan ;  thou  wilt 
not  meet  kindness." 

The  word  "  orphan  "  brought  the  death  of 
Kaliksta  to  the  minds  of  the  women.  One 
of  them  said,  — 

"  To  you,  Kuhk,  drink  !  Oh,  my  dears,  how 
that  paralus  [paralysis]  took  her  so  that  she 
could  n't  stir  !  She  was  cold  before  the  priest 
came  to  hear  her  confession." 

"  I  told  her  long  ago,"  said  Kulik,  "  that  she 
was  spinning  fine  [near  her  end].  Last  week 
she  came  to  me.  Said  I,  '  Ah,  better  give 
Marysia  to  the  mansion  ! '  But  she  said,  *  I 
have  one  little  daughter,  and  I  '11  not  give  her 
to  any  one.'  But  she  grew  sorry,  and  began 
to  sob,  and  then  she  went  to  the  mayor  to 
put  her  papers  in  order.  She  paid  four  zloty 
and  six  groshes.  '  But  I  do  not  begrudge  it 
for  my  child,'  said  she.  My  dears,  but  her 
eyes  were  staring,  and  after  death  they  were 
staring  still  more.  People  wanted  to  close 
them,  but  could  not.  They  say  that  after 
death,  even,  she  was  looking  at  her  child." 


1 86  VAMVOL. 


"  Let  us  drink  half  a  quarter  over  this 
sorrow  !  " 

The  organ  was  playing  continually.  The 
women  began  to  be  somewhat  tender.  Kulik 
repeated,  with  a  voice  of  compassion,  "  Poor 
little  thing  !  poor  little  thing  !  "  and  the  sec- 
ond old  woman  called  to  mind  the  death  of 
her  late  husband. 

^^  When  he  was  dying,' ^  said  she,  '^  he  sighed 
so,  oh,  he  sighed  so,  he  sighed  so  !  —  "  and 
drawling  still  more,  her  voice  passed  into  a 
chant,  from  a  chant  into  the  tone  of  the  organ, 
till  at  last  she  bent  to  one  side,  and  in  follow- 
ing the  organ  began  to  sing,  — 

"  He  sighed,  he  sighed,  he  sighed, 
On  that  day  he  sighed." 

All  at  once  she  fell  to  shedding  hot  tears, 
gave  the  organist  six  groshes,  and  drank  some 
more  vodka.  Kulik,  too,  was  excited  by  ten- 
derness, but  she  turned  it -on  Marysia, — 

'^Remember,  little  orphan,"  said  she,  "what 


VAMVOL.  187 


the  priest  said  when  they  were  covering  thy 
mother  with  snow,  that  there  is  a  yamyol  [an 
angel]  above  thee  — "  Here  she  stopped, 
looked  around  as  if  astonished,  and  then 
added,  with  unusual  energy,  '*  When  I  say  that 
there  is  a  yamyol,  there  is  a  yamyol !  " 

No  one  contradicted  her.  Marysia,  blinking 
with  her  poor,  simple  eyes,  looked  attentively 
at  the  woman.     Kulik  spoke  on,  — 

^'Thou  art  a  little  orphan,  that  is  bad  for 
thee  !  Over  orphans  there  is  a  yamyol.  He 
is  good.  Here  are  ten  groshes  for  thee.  Even 
if  thou  wert  to  start  on  foot  to  Leschyntsi, 
thou  couldst  go  there,  for  he  would  guide 
thee.'^ 

The  second  old  woman  began  to  sing : 

"  In  the   shade  of    his   wings  he  will  keep    thee 
eternally, 
Under  his  pinions  thou  wilt  lie  without  danger.'* 

"  Be  quiet !  "  said  Kulik.  And  then  she 
turned  again  to  the  child, — 


1 88  VAMYOL. 


"  Knowest  thou,  stupid,  who  is  above  thee  ?  " 

^' A  yamyol,"  said,  with  a  thin  voice,  the  Httle 
girl. 

"  Oh,  thou  little  orphan,  thou  precious  berry, 
thou  little  worm  of  the  Lord  !  A  yamyol  with 
wings,''  said  she,  with  perfect  tenderness,  and 
seizing  the  child  she  pressed  her  to  her  honest, 
though  tipsy,  bosom. 

Marysia  burst  into  weeping  at  once.  Per- 
haps in  her  dark  little  head  and  in  her  heart, 
which  knew  not  yet  how  to  distinguish,  there 
was  roused  some  sort  of  perception  at  that 
moment. 

The  innkeeper  was  sleeping  most  soundly 
behind  the  counter  ;  on  the  candle-wicks 
mushrooms  had  grown ;  the  man  at  the  organ 
ceased  to  play,  for  what  he  saw  amused  him. 

Then  there  was  silence,  which  was  broken  by 
the  sudden  plashing  of  horses'  feet  before  the 
door,  and  a  voice  calling  to  the  horses,  — 

"  Prrr  !  " 

Voytek  Margula  walked  into  the  inn  with  a 


VAMVOL.  189 


lighted  lantern  in  his  hand.  He  put  down  the 
lantern,  began  to  slap  his  arms  to  warm  them, 
and  at  last  said  to  the  innkeeper,  — 

*'  Give  half  a  quarter." 

^^Margula,  thou  chestnut,"  cried  Kulik, 
"  thou  wilt  take  the  little  girl  to  Leschyntsi." 

"  I  '11  take  her,  for  they  told  me  to  take  her," 
replied  Margula. 

Then  looking  closely  to  the  two  women  he 
added,  — 

"  But  ye  are  as  drunk  as  —  " 

"  May  the  plague  choke  thee,"  retorted  Kulik. 
"  When  I  tell  thee  to  be  careful  with  the  child, 
be  careful.  She  is  an  orphan.  Knowest  thou, 
fool,  who  is  above  her?" 

Voytek  did  not  see  fit  to  answer  that  ques- 
tion, but  determined  evidently  to  raise  another 
subject,  and  began,  — 

"  To  all  of  you  —  " 

But  he  did  n't  finish,  for  he  drank  the  vodka, 
made  a  wry  face,  and  putting  down  the  glass 
with  dissatisfaction,  said,  — ■- 


190  YAMYOL, 


"  That  *s  pure  water.  Give  me  a  second  from 
another  bottle.'* 

The  innkeeper  poured  from  another.  Mar- 
gula  twisted  his  face  still  more  : 

*^  Ai !  have  n't  you  arrack?  " 

Evidently  the  same  danger  threatened  Mar- 
gula  that  threatened  the  women ;  but  at  that 
very  time,  in  the  mansion  at  Lupiskory,  the 
landowner  was  preparing  for  one  of  the  jour- 
nals a  long  and  exhaustive  article,  "  On  the  right 
of  landowners  to  sell  liquor,  this  right  being 
considered  as  the  basis  of  society."  But  Voytek 
co-operated  only  involuntarily  to  strengthen  the 
basis  of  society,  and  that  all  the  more  because 
the  sale  here,  though  in  a  village,  was  really  by 
the  landowner. 

When  he  had  co-operated  five  times  in  succes- 
sion he  forgot,  it  is  true,  his  lantern,  in  which 
the  light  had  gone  out,  but  he  took  the  half- 
sleeping  little  girl  by  the  hand,  and  said,  — 

"  But  come  on,  thou  nightmare  !  " 

The  women  bad  fallen  asleep  in  a  corner^  no 


VAMVOL. 


191 


one  bade  farewell  to  Marysia.  The  whole  story 
was  this  :  Her  mother  was  in  the  graveyard  and 
she  was  going  to  Leschyntsi. 

Voytek  and  the  girl  went  out,  sat  in  the  sleigh. 
Voytek  cried  to  the  horses,  and  they  moved  on. 
At  first  the  sleigh  dragged  heavily  enough 
through  the  slush  of  the  town,  but  they  came 
out  very  soon  to  fields  which  were  broad  and 
white.  Movement  was  easy  then ;  the  snow 
barely  made  a  noise  under  the  sleigh-runners. 
The  horses  snorted  at  times,  at  times  came  the 
barking  of  dogs  from  a  distance. 

They  went  on  and  on.  Voytek  urged  the 
horses,  and  sang  through  his  nose,  "  Dog  ear, 
remember  thy  promise."  But  soon  he  grew 
silent,  and  began  to  "carry  Jews'*  (nod).  He 
nodded  to  the  right,  to  the  left.  He  dreamt 
that  they  were  pounding  him  on  the  shoulders 
in  Leschyntsi,  because  he  had  lost  a  basket  of 
letters  ;  so,  from  time  to  time,  he  was  half  awake, 
and  repeated:  "To  all!"  Marysia  did  not 
sleep,  for  she  was  cold.    She  looked  with  widely 


192  VAMVOL. 


opened  eyes  on  the  white  fields,  hidden  from 
moment  to  moment  by  the  dark  shoulders  of 
Margula.  She  thought  also  that  her  "  mother 
was  dead  ;  "  and  thinking  thus,  she  pictured  to 
herself  perfectly  the  pale  and  thin  face  of  her 
mother  with  its  staring  eyes,  —  and  she  felt  half 
consciously  that  that  face  was  greatly  beloved, 
that  it  was  no  longer  in  the  world,  and  would 
never  be  in  Leschyntsi  again.  She  had  seen 
with  her  own  eyes  how  they  covered  it  up  in 
Lupiskory.  Remembering  this,  she  would  have 
cried  from  grief;  but  as  her  knees  and  feet 
were  chilled,  she  began  to  cry  from  cold. 

There  was  no  frost,  it  is  true,  but  the 
air  was  penetrating,  as  is  usual  during  thaws. 
As  to  Voytek  he  had,  at  least  in  his  stomach, 
a  good  supply  of  heat  taken  from  the  inn. 
The  landowner  at  Lupiskory  remarked  justly : 
^^That  vodka  warms  in  winter,  and  since  it  is 
the  only  consolation  of  our  peasants,  to  deprive 
landowners  of  the  sole  power  of  consoling  peas- 
ants is  to  deprive  them  of  influence  over  the 


VAMVOL. 


193 


populace."  Voytek  was  so  consoled  at  that 
moment  that  nothmg  could  trouble  him. 

Even  this  did  not  trouble  him,  that  the 
horses  when  they  came  to  the  forest  slackened 
their  pace  altogether,  though  the  road  there 
was  better,  and  then  walking  to  one  side,  the 
beasts  turned  over  the  sleigh  into  a  ditch.  He 
woke,  it  is  true,  but  did  not  understand  well 
what  had  happened. 

Marysia  begun  to  push  him. 

"  Voytek  ! " 

"  Why  art  thou  croaking?  " 

"  The  sleigh  is  turned  over." 

"A  glass?"  asked  Voytek,  and  went  to  sleep 
for  good. 

The  litde  girl  sat  by  the  sleigh,  crouching 
down  as  best  she  could,  and  remained  there. 
But  her  face  was  soon  chilled,  so  she  began  to 
push  the  sleeping  man  again. 

*' Voytek!" 

He  gave  no  answer. 

"  Voytek,  I  want  to  go  to  the  house." 

13 


194  YAMVOL. 


And  after  a  while  again  :  "  Voytek,  I  '11  walk 
there." 

At  last  she  started.  It  seemed  to  her  that 
Leschyntsi  was  very  near.  She  knew  the  road, 
too,  for  she  had  walked  to  church  over  it  every 
Sunday  with  her  mother.  But  now  she  had  to 
go  alone.  In  spite  of  the  thaw  the  snow  in  the 
forest  was  deep,  but  the  night  was  very  clear. 
To  the  gleam  from  the  snow  was  added  light 
from  the  clouds,  so  that  the  road  could  be 
seen  as  in  the  daytime.  Marysia,  turning  her 
eyes  to  the  dark  forest,  could  see  tree-trunks 
very  far  away  outlined  distinctly,  black,  motion- 
less, on  the  white  ground ;  and  she  saw  clearly 
also  snow-drifts  blown  to  the  whole  height  of 
them.  In  the  forest  there  was  a  certain  im- 
mense calm,  which  gave  solace  to  the  child. 
On  the  branches  was  thick,  frozen  snow,  and 
from  it  drops  of  water  were  trickling,  striking 
with  faint  sound  against  the  branches  and  twigs. 
But  that  was  the  only  noise.  All  else  around 
was  still,  white,  silent,  dumb. 


VAMVOL. 


I9S 


The  wind  was  not  blowing.  The  snowy 
branches  were  not  stirring  with  the  slightest 
movement.  Everything  was  sleeping  in  the 
trance  of  winter.  It  might  seem  that  the 
snowy  covering  on  the  earth,  and  the  whole 
silent  and  shrouded  forest,  with  the  pale  clouds 
in  the  heavens,  were  all  a  kind  of  white,  lifeless 
unity.  So  it  is  in  time  of  thaw.  Marysia  was 
the  only  living  thing,  moving  like  a  little  black 
speck  amid  these  silent  greatnesses.  Kind, 
honest  forest !  Those  drops,  which  the  thaw- 
ing ice  let  down,  were  tears,  perhaps,  over  the 
orphan.  The  trees  are  so  large,  but  also  so 
compassionate,  above  the  little  creature.  See, 
she  is  alone,  so  weak  and  poor,  in  the  snow,  in 
the  night,  in  the  forest,  wading  along  trustfully, 
as  if  there  is  no  danger. 

The  clear  night  seems  to  care  for  her.  When 
something  so  weak  and  helpless  yields  itself, 
trusts  so  perfectly  in  enormous  power,  there  is  a 
certain  sweetness  in  the  act.  In  that  way  all 
may  be  left  to  the  will  of  God.   The  girl  walked 


196  VAMYOL. 


rather  long,  and  was  wearied  at  last.  The  heavy 
boots,  which  were  too  large,  hindered  her ;  her 
small  feet  were  going  up  and  down  in  them 
continually.  It  was  hard  to  drag  out  such  big 
boots  from  the  snow.  Besides,  she  could  not 
move  her  hands  freely,  for  in  one  of  them, 
closed  rigidly,  she  held  with  all  her  strength 
those  ten  groshes  which  Kulik  had  given  her. 
She  feared  to  drop  them  in  the  snow.  She  be- 
gan at  times  to  cry  aloud,  and  then  she  stopped 
suddenly,  as  if  wishing  to  know  if  some  one 
had  heard  her.  Yes,  the  forest  had  heard  her  ! 
The  thawing  ice  sounded  monotonously  and 
somewhat  sadly.  Besides,  maybe  some  one 
else  had  heard  her.  The  child  went  more  and 
more  slowly.  Could  she  go  astray?  How? 
The  road,  like  a  white,  broad,  windmg  ribbon, 
stretches  into  the  distance,  lies  well  marked 
between  two  walls  of  dark  trees.  An  uncon- 
querable drowsiness  seized  the  little  girl. 

She   stepped  aside  and   sat  down   under   a 
tree.     The  lids  dropped  over  her  eyes.    After  a 


VAMVOL.  197 


time,  she  thought  that  her  mother  was  coming 
to  her  along  the  white  road  from  the  grave- 
yard. No  one  was  coming.  Still,  the  child 
felt  certain  that  some  one  must  come.  Who? 
A  yamyol.  Had  n't  old  Kulik  told  her  that 
a  yamyol  was  above  her?  Marysia  knew  what 
a  yamyol  is.  In  her  mother's  cottage  there 
was  one  painted  with  a  shield  in  his  hand 
and  with  wings.  He  would  come,  surely. 
Somehow  the  ice  began  to  sound  more  loudly. 
Maybe  that  is  the  noise  of  his  wings,  scatter- 
ing drops  more  abundantly.  Stop  1  Some 
one  is  coming  really;  the  snow,  though  soft, 
sounds  clearly ;  steps  are  coming,  and  coming 
quietly  but  quickly.  The  child  raises  her 
sleepy  eyehds  with  confidence. 

"What  is  that?'* 

Looking  at  the  little  girl  intently  is  a  gray 
three-cornered  face  with  ears,  standing  upright, 
—  ugly,  terrible  ! 


yi  REMINISCENCE  2f  SPAIN- 


TheTBull  Fight 


A  Reminiscence  oj  Spain** 


TT  is  Sunday !  Great  posters,  affixed  for  a 
^  number  of  days  to  the  corners  of  Puerta 
del  Sol,  Calle  Alcala,  and  all  streets  on  which 
there  was  considerable  movement,  announce  to 
the  city  that  to-day,  "  Si  el  tiempo  lo  permite  " 
(if  the  weather  permits),  will  take  place  bull- 
fight XVI.,  in  which  Cara-Ancha  Lagartijo  and 
the  renowned  Frascuello  are  to  appear  as 
*'  espadas  "   (swords) . 


202  THE  BULL-FIGHT. 

Well,  the  weather  permits.  There  was  rain 
in  the  morning ;  but  about  ten  o'clock  the  wind 
broke  the  clouds,  gathered  them  into  heaps, 
and  drove  them  away  off  somewhere  in  the 
direction  of  the  Escurial.  Now  the  wind  itself 
has  ceased ;  the  sky  as  far  as  the  eye  can  reach 
is  blue,  and  over  the  Puerta  del  Sol  a  bright  sun 
is  shining,  —  such  a  Madrid  sun,  which  not 
only  warms,  not  only  burns,  but  almost  bites. 

Movement  in  the  city  is  increasing,  and  on 
people's  faces  satisfaction  is  evident. 

Two  o'clock. 

The  square  of  the  Puerta  del  Sol  is  emptying 
gradually,  but  crowds  of  people  are  advancing 
through  the  Calle  Alcala  toward  the  Prado.  In 
the  middle  is  flowing  a  river  of  carriages  and 
vehicles.  All  that  line  of  equipages  is  moving 
very  slowly,  for  on  the  sidewalks  there  is  not 
room  enough  for  pedestrians,  many  of  whom 
are  walking  along  the  sides  of  the  streets  and 
close  to  the  carriages.  The  police,  on  white 
horses  and  in  showy  uniforms  and  three-cor- 
nered hats,  preserve  order. 


THE  BULL-FIGHT.  203 

It  is  Sunday,  that  is  evident,  and  an  after- 
noon hour ;  the  toilets  are  carefull}^  made,  the 
attire  is  holiday.  It  is  evident  also  that  the 
crowds  are  going  to  some  curious  spectacle. 
Unfortunately  the  throng  is  not  at  all  many- 
colored;  no  national  costumes  are  visible, — 
neither  the  short  coats,  yellow  kerchiefs  a  la 
contrabandista,  with  one  end  dropping  down 
to  the  shoulder,  nor  the  round  Biscay  hats,  nor 
girdles,  nor  the  Catalan  knives  behind  the 
girdles. 

Those  things  may  be  seen  yet  in  the  neigh- 
borhood of  Granada,  Seville,  and  Cordova  ;  but 
in  Madrid,  especially  on  holidays,  the  cosmopol- 
itan frock  is  predominant.  Only  at  times  do 
you  see  a  black  mantilla  pinned  to  a  high  comb, 
and  under  the  mantilla  eyes  blacker  still. 

In  general  faces  are  dark,  glances  quick, 
speech  loud.  Gesticulation  is  not  so  passion- 
ate as  in  Italy,  where  when  a  man  laughs  he 
sqigirms  like  a  snake,  and  when  he  is  angry  he 
gnaws  off  the  top  of  his  hat ;  still,  it  is  energetic 


204  "^^^  BULL-PIGHT. 

and  lively.  Faces  have  well-defined  features 
and  a  resolute  look.  It  is  easy  to  understand 
that  even  in  amusement  these  people  retain 
their  special  and  definite  character. 

However,  they  are  a  people  who  on  week- 
days are  full  of  sedateness,  bordering  on  sloth, 
sparing  of  words,  and  collected.  Sunday  enliv- 
ens them,  as  does  also  the  hope  of  seeing  a 
bloody  spectacle. 

Let  us  cut  across  the  Prado  and  enter  an 
alley  leading  to  the  circus. 

The  crowd  is  becoming  still  denser.  Here 
and  there  shouts  are  rising,  the  people  ap- 
plauding single  members  of  the  company,  who 
are  going  each  by  himself  to  the  circus. 

Here  is  an  omnibus  filled  with  "  capeadors," 
that  is,  partakers  in  the  fight,  whose  whole  de- 
fence is  red  capes  with  which  they  mislead  and 
irritate  the  bull.  Through  the  windows  are  visi- 
ble black  heads  with  pigtails,  and  wearing  three- 
cornered  hats.  The  coats  of  various  colors 
worn  by  the  capeadors  are   embroidered  with 


THE  BULL-FIGHT.  205 

gold  and  silver  tinsel.  These  capeadors  ride 
in  an  omnibus,  for  the  modest  pay  which  they 
get  for  their  perilous  service  does  not  permit 
a  more  showy  conveyance. 

Somewhat  farther,  three  mounted  "  picadors  " 
push  their  way  through  the  people.  The  sun 
plays  on  their  broad-brimmed  white  hats.  They 
are  athletic  in  build,  but  bony  and  lean.  Their 
shaven  faces  have  a  stern,  and,  as  it  were,  con- 
centrated look.  They  are  sitting  on  very  high 
wooden  saddles,  hence  they  are  perfectly  visible 
over  the  crowd.  Each  of  them  holds  in  his 
hand  a  lance,  with  a  wooden  ball  at  the  end  of 
it,  from  which  is  projecting  an  iron  point  not 
above  half  an  inch  long.  The  picador  cannot 
kill  a  bull  with  a  weapon  like  that,  —  he  can 
only  pierce  him  or  stop  him  for  a  moment ;  but 
in  the  last  case  he  must  have  in  his  arm  the 
strength  of  a  giant. 

Looking  at  these  men,  I  remember  involun- 
tarily Dora's  illustrations  to  "  Don  Quixote."  In 
fact,  each  of  these  horsemen  might  serve  as  a 


206  THE   BULL-FIGHT. 

model  for  the  knight  ^^of  the  rueful  visage." 
That  lean  silhouette,  outlined  firmly  on  the  sky, 
high  above  the  heads  of  the  multitude,  the 
lance  standing  upright,  and  that  bare-boned 
horse  under  the  rider,  those  purely  Gothic  out- 
lines of  living  things,  —  all  answer  perfectly  to 
the  conception  which  we  form  of  the  knight  of 
La  Mancha,  when  we  read  the  immortal  work 
of  Cervantes. 

But,  the  picadors  pass  us,  and  urging  apart  the 
crowd  slowly,  push  forward  considerably.  Now 
only  three  lances  are  visible,  three  hats,  and 
three  coats  embroidered  on  the  shoulders.  New 
men  ride  up,  as  incalculably  similar  to  the  first 
as  if  some  mill  were  making  picadors  for  all 
Spain  on  one  pattern.  There  is  a  difference 
only  in  the  color  of  the  horses,  which,  however, 
are  equally  lean. 

Our  eyes  turn  now  to  the  long  row  of  car- 
riages. Some  are  drawn  by  mules,  but  mules 
so  large,  sleek,  and  beautiful  that,  in  spite  of  the 
long  ears  of  the  animals,  the  turn-out  does  not 


THE  BULL-FIGHT.  2O7 

seem  ridiculous.  Here  and  there  may  be  seen 
also  Andalusian  horses  with  powerful  backs, 
arched  necks,  and  curved  faces.  Such  may  be 
seen  in  the  pictures  of  battle-painters  of  the 
seventeenth  century. 

In  the  carriages  are  sitting  the  flower  of 
Madrid  society.  The  dresses  are  black,  there 
is  very  black  lace  on  the  parasols,  on  the  fans, 
and  on  the  heads  of  ladies  ;  black  hair  trimmed 
in  forelocks,  from  under  which  are  glancing 
eyes,  as  it  were,  of  the  lava  of  Vesuvius. 
Mourning  colors,  importance,  and  powder  are 
the  main  traits  of  that  society. 

The  faces  of  old  and  of  young  ladies  also  are 
covered  with  powder,  all  of  them  are  equally 
frigid  and  pale.  A  great  pity  !  Were  it  not 
for  such  a  vile  custom,  their  complexion  would 
have  that  magnificent  warm  tone  given  by  south- 
ern blood  and  a  southern  sun,  and  which  may 
be  admired  in  faces  painted  by  Fortuni. 

In  the  front  seats  of  the  carriages  are  men 
dressed  with  an  elegance  somewhat  exagger- 


208  THE   BULL-FIGHT. 

ated ;  they  have  a  constrained  and  too  hohday 
air,  —  in  other  words,  they  cannot  wear  fine 
garments  with  that  free  inattention  which  char- 
acterizes the  higher  society  of  France. 

But  the  walls  of  the  circus  are  outlined  before 
us  with  growing  distinctness.  There  is  nothing 
especial  in  the  building  :  an  enormous  pile  reared 
expressly  to  give  seats  to  some  tens  of  thousands 
of  people,  —  that  is  the  whole  plan  of  it. 

Most  curious  is  the  movement  near  the 
walls.  Round  about,  it  is  black  from  carriages, 
equipages,  and  heads  of  people.  Towering 
above  this  dark  mass,  here  and  there,  is  a 
horseman,  a  policeman,  or  a  picador  in  colors 
as  brilliant  as  a  poppy  full  blown. 

The  throng  sways,  opens,  closes,  raises  its 
voice ;  coachmen  shout ;  still  louder  shout 
boys  selling  handbills.  These  boys  squeeze 
themselves  in  at  all  points  among  footmen 
and  horsemen;  they  are  on  the  steps  of  car- 
riages and  between  the  wheels ;  some  climb 
up  on  the  buttresses  of  the  circus ;   some  are 


THE  BULL-FIGHT. 


209 


on  the  stone  columns  which  mark  the  way 
for  the  carriages.  Their  curly  hair,  their 
gleaming  eyes,  their  expressive  features,  dark 
faces,  and  torn  shirts  open  in  the  bosom, 
remind  me  of  our  gypsies,  and  of  boys  in 
Murillo's  pictures.  Besides  programmes  some 
of  them  sell  whistles.  Farther  on,  among  the 
crowds,  are  fruit- venders ;  water-sellers  with 
bronze  kegs  on  their  shoulders;  in  one  place 
are  flower  dealers ;  in  another  is  heard  the 
sound  of  a  guitar  played  by  an  old  blind 
woman  led  by  a  little  girl. 

Movement,  uproar,  laughter ;  fans  are  flutter- 
ing everywhere  as  if  they  were  wings  of  thou- 
sands of  birds  ;  the  sun  pours  down  white  light 
in  torrents  from  a  spotless  sky  of  dense  blue. 

Suddenly  and  from  all  sides  are  heard  cries 
of  "mira,  mira  !  "  (look,  look  !)  After  a  while 
these  cries  are  turned  into  a  roar  of  applause, 
which  like  real  thunder  flies  from  one  extreme 
to  another ;  now  it  is  quiet,  now  it  rises  and 
extends  around  the  whole  circus. 


2IO  THE  BULL-FIGHT. 

What  has  happened?  Surely  the  queen  is 
approaching,  and  with  her  the  court? 

No  !  near  by  is  heard  *^  eviva  Frascuello  !  " 
That  is  the  most  famous  espada,  who  is 
coming  for  laurels  and  applause. 

All  eyes  turn  to  him,  and  the  whole  throng 
of  women  push  toward  his  carriage.  The  air 
is  gleaming  with  flowers  thrown  by  their  hands 
to  the  feet  of  that  favorite,  that  hero  of  every 
dream  and  imagining,  that  '^  pearl  of  Spain." 
They  greet  him  the  more  warmly  because  he 
has  just  returned  from  a  trip  to  Barcelona, 
where  during  the  exhibition  he  astonished  all 
barbarous  Europe  with  thrusts  of  his  sword ; 
now  he  appears  again  in  his  beloved  Madrid, 
more  glorious,  greater,  —  a  genuine  new  Cid 
el   Campeador. 

Let  us  push  through  the  crowd  to  look  at 
the  hero.  First,  what  a  carriage,  what  horses  1 
More  beautiful  there  are  not  in  the  whole  of 
Castile.  On  white  satin  cushions  sits,  or  re- 
clines, we  should  say,  a  man  whose  age  it  is 


THE  BULL-FIGHT,  211 

difficult  to  determine,  for  his  face  is  shaven 
most  carefully.  He  is  dressed  in  a  coat  of 
pale  lily-colored  satin,  and  knee-breeches  of 
similar  material  trimmed  with  lace.  His  coat 
and  the  side  seams  of  his  breeches  are  glitter- 
ing and  sparkling  from  splendid  embroidery, 
from  spangles  of  gold  and  silver  shining  like 
diamonds  in  the  sun.  The  most  delicate  laces 
ornament  his  breast.  His  legs,  clothed  in  rose- 
colored  silk  stockings,  he  holds  crossed  care- 
lessly on  the  front  seat,  —  the  very  first  athlete 
in  the  hippodrome  at  Paris  might  envy  him 
those  calves. 

Madrid  is  vain  of  those  calves, — and  in  truth 
she  has  reason. 

The  great  man  leans  with  one  hand  on  the 
red  hilt  of  his  Catalan  blade  ;  with  the  other  he 
greets  his  admirers  of  both  sexes  kindly.  His 
black  hair,  combed  to  his  poll,  is  tied  behind 
in  a  small  roll,  from  beneath  which  creeps  forth 
a  short  tress.  That  style  of  hair-dressing  and 
the  shaven  face   make  him   somewhat   like   a 


THE  BULL-FIGHT. 


woman,  and  he  reminds  one  besides  of  some 
actor  from  one  of  the  provinces ;  taken  gener- 
ally, his  face  is  not  distinguished  by  intelligence, 
a  quality  which  in  his  career  would  not  be 
a  hindrance,  though  not  needed  in  any  way. 

The  crowds  enter  the  circus,  and  we  enter 
with  them. 

Now  we  are  in  the  interior.  It  differs  from 
other  interiors  of  circuses  only  in  size  and  in 
this,  —  that  the  seats  are  of  stone.  Highest  in 
the  circle  are  the  boxes ;  of  these  one  in  velvet 
and  in  gold  fringe  is  the  royal  box.  If  no  one 
from  the  court  is  present  at  the  spectacle  this 
box  is  occupied  by  the  prefect  of  the  city. 
Around  are  seated  the  aristocracy  and  high 
officials ;  opposite  the  royal  box,  on  the  other 
side  of  the  circus,  is  the  orchestra.  Half-way 
up  in  the  circus  is  a  row  of  arm-chairs ;  stone 
steps  form  the  rest  of  the  seats.  Below,  around 
the  arena,  stretches  a  wooden  paling  the  height 
of  a  man's  shoulder.  Between  this  paling  and 
the  first  row  of  seats,  which  is  raised  considera- 


THE  BULL-FIQHT.  213 

bly  higher  for  the  safety  of  the  spectators,  is 
a  narrow  corridor,  in  which  the  combatants 
take  refuge,  in  case  the  bull  threatens  them  too 
greatly. 

One-half  of  the  circus  is  buried  in  shadow, 
the  other  is  deluged  with  sunlight.  On  every 
ticket,  near  the  number  of  the  seat,  is  printed 
"sombra"  (shadow)  or  "sol"  (sun).  Evi- 
dently the  tickets  "  sombra  "  cost  considerably 
more.  It  is  difficult  to  imagine  how  those 
who  have  "  sol "  tickets  can  endure  to  sit  in 
such  an  atmosphere  a  number  of  hours  and 
on  those  heated  stone  steps,  with  such  a  sun 
above  their  heads. 

The  places  are  all  filled,  however.  Clearly 
the  love  of  a  bloody  spectacle  surpasses  the 
fear  of  being  roasted  alive. 

In  northern  countries  the  contrast  between 
light  and  shadow  is  not  so  great  as  in  Spain ; 
in  the  north  we  find  always  a  kind  of  half 
shade,  half  light,  certain  transition  tones ;  here 
the  boundary  is  cut  off  in  black  with  a  firm  line 


214  ^^^  BULL-FIGHT. 

without  any  transitions.  In  the  illuminated 
half  the  sand  seems  to  burn ;  people's  faces  and 
dresses  are  blazing  ;  eyes  are  blinking  under  the 
excess  of  glare ;  it  is  simply  an  abyss  of  light, 
full  of  heat,  in  which  everything  is  sparkling  and 
gleaming  excessively,  every  color  is  intensified 
tenfold.  On  the  other  hand,  the  shaded  half 
seems  cut  off  by  some  transparent  curtain, 
woven  from  the  darkness  of  night.  Every 
man  who  passes  from  the  light  to  the  shade, 
makes  on  us  the  impression  of  a  candle  put 
out  on  a  sudden. 

At  the  moment  when  we  enter,  the  arena  is 
crowded  with  people.  Before  the  spectacle  the 
inhabitants  of  Madrid,  male  and  female,  must 
tread  that  sand  on  which  the  bloody  drama  is 
soon  to  be  played.  It  seems  to  them  that  thus 
they  take  direct  part,  as  it  were,  in  the  strug- 
gle. Numerous  groups  of  men  are  standing, 
lighting  their  cigarettes  and  discoursing  viva- 
ciously concerning  the  merits  of  bulls  from  this 
herd  or  that  one.     Small  boys  tease  and  pursue 


THE   BULL-FIGHT.  215 

one  another.  I  see  how  one  puts  under  the 
eyes  of  another  a  bit  of  red  cloth,  treating  him 
just  as  a  "  capeador  "  treats  a  bull.  The  boy 
endures  this  a  while  patiently ;  at  last  he  rolls 
his  eyes  fiercely  and  runs  at  his  opponent.  The 
opponent  deceives  him  adroitly  with  motions  of 
a  cape,  exactly  again  as  the  capeador  does  the 
bull.  The  little  fellows  find  their  spectators, 
who  urge  them  on  with  applause. 

Along  the  paling  pass  venders  of  oranges 
proclaiming  the  merits  of  their  merchandise. 
This  traffic  is  carried  on  through  the  air.  The 
vender  throws,  at  request,  with  unerring  dex- 
terity, an  orange,  even  to  the  highest  row ;  in 
the  same  way  he  receives  a  copper  piece,  which 
he  catches  with  one  hand  before  it  touches  the 
earth.  Loud  dialogues,  laughter,  calls,  noise, 
rustling  of  fans,  the  movement  of  spectators  as 
they  arrive,  —  all  taken  together  form  a  picture 
with  a  fulness  of  life  of  which  no  other  spec- 
tacle can  give  an  idea. 

All  at  once  from  the  orchestra  come  sounds 


2l6  THE  BULL-FIGHT. 

of  trumpets  and  drums.  At  that  signal  the 
people  on  the  arena  fly  to  their  places  with  as 
much  haste  as  if  danger  were  threatening  their 
lives.  There  is  a  crush.  But  after  a  while  all 
are  seated.  Around,  it  is  just  black :  people 
are  shoulder  to  shoulder,  head  to  head.  In 
the  centre  remains  the  arena  empty,  deluged 
with  sunlight. 

Opposite  the  royal  box  a  gate  in  the  paling 
is  thrown  open,  and  in  ride  two  "  alguazils." 
Their  horses  white,  with  manes  and  tails 
plaited,  are  as  splendid  as  if  taken  from  pic- 
tures. The  riders  themselves,  wearing  black 
velvet  caps  with  white  feathers,  and  doublets  of 
similar  material,  with  lace  collars,  bring  to  mind 
the  incomparable  canvases  of  Velasquez,  which 
may  be  admired  in  the  Museo  del  Prado.  It 
seems  to  us  that  we  are  transferred  to  the  times 
of  knighthood  long  past.  Both  horsemen  are 
handsome,  both  of  showy  form.  They  ride 
stirrup  to  stirrup,  ride  slowly  around  the  whole 
arena  to  convince  themselves  that  no  incautious 


THE  BULL-FIGHT,  21  7 

Spectator  has  remained  on  it.  At  last  they  halt 
before  the  royal  box,  and  with  a  movement  full 
of  grace  uncover  their  heads  with  respect. 

Whoso  is  in  a  circus  for  the  first  time  will 
be  filled  with  admiration  at  the  stately,  almost 
middle- age,  ceremonial,  by  the  apparel  and 
dignity  of  the  horsemen.  The  alguazils  seem 
like  two  noble  heralds,  giving  homage  to  a 
monarch  before  the  beginning  of  a  tournament. 
It  is,  in  fact,  a  prayer  for  permission  to  open 
the  spectacle,  and  at  the  same  time  a  request 
for  the  key  of  the  stables  in  which  the  bulls  are 
confined.  After  a  while  the  key  is  let  down 
from  the  box  on  a  gold  string;  the  alguazils 
incline  once  again  and  ride  away.  Evidently 
this  is  a  mere  ceremonial,  for  the  spectacle  was 
authorized  previously,  and  the  bulls  are  con- 
fined by  simple  iron  bolts.  But  the  ceremony 
is  beautiful,  and  they  never  omit  it. 

In  a  few  minutes  after  the  alguazils  have 
vanished,  the  widest  gate  is  thrown  open,  and 
a  whole   company  enters.     At  the   head  of  it 


2l8  THE   BULL-FIGHT. 

ride  the  same  two  alguazils  whom  we  saw  before 
the  royal  box;  after  them  advance  a  rank  of 
capeadors;  after  the  capeadors  come  '*bande- 
rilleros,'^  and  the  procession  is  concluded  by 
picadors.  This  entire  party  is  shining  with  all 
the  colors  of  the  rainbow,  gleaming  from  tinsel, 
gold,  silver,  and  satins  of  various  colors.  They 
come  out  from  the  dark  side  to  the  sunlighted 
arena,  dive  into  the  glittering  light,  and  bloom 
like  flowers.  The  eye  cannot  delight  itself 
sufficiently  with  the  many  colors  of  those  spots 
on  the  golden  sand. 

Having  reached  the  centre,  they  scatter  on  a 
sudden,  like  a  flock  of  butterflies.  The  pica- 
dors dispose  themselves  around  at  the  paling, 
and  each  one  drawing  his  lance  from  its  rest, 
grasps  it  firmly  in  his  right  hand  ;  the  men  on 
foot  form  picturesque  groups ;  they  stand  in 
postures  full  of  indifl*erence,  waiting  for  the 
bull. 

This  is  perhaps  the  most  beautiful  moment 
of  the  spectacle,  full  of  originality,  so  thoroughly 


THE  BULL-FIGHT.  219 

Spanish  that  regret  at  not  being  a  painter  comes 
on  a  man  in  spite  of  himself.  How  much  color, 
what  sunlight  might  be  transferred  from  the 
palette  to  the  canvas  ! 

Soon  blood  will  be  flowing  on  that  sand.  In 
the  circus  it  is  as  still  as  in  time  of  sowing 
poppy  seed,  —  it  is  barely  possible  to  hear  the 
sound  of  fans,  which  move  only  in  as  much  as 
the  hands  holding  them  quiver  from  impatience. 
All  eyes  are  turned  to  the  door  through  which 
the  bull  will  rush  forth.  Time  now  is  counted 
by  seconds. 

Suddenly  the  shrill,  and  at  the  same  time  the 
mournful,  sound  of  a  trumpet  is  heard  in  the 
orchestra ;  the  door  of  the  stable  opens  with 
a  crash,  and  the  bull  bursts  into  the  arena,  hke 
a  thunderbolt. 

That  is  a  lordly  beast,  with  a  powerful  and 
splendid  neck,  a  head  comparatively  short, 
horns  enormous  and  turned  forward.  Our 
heavy  breeder  gives  a  poor  idea  of  him  ;  for 
though  the  Spanish  bull  is  not  the  equal  of  ours 


2  20  THE  BULL-FIGHT. 

in  bulk  of  body,  he  surpasses  him  in  strength, 
and,  above  all,  in  activity.  At  the  first  cast  of 
the  eye  you  recognize  a  beast  reared  wild  in 
the  midst  of  great  spaces  ;  consequently  with  all 
his  strength  he  can  move  almost  as  swiftly  as  a 
deer.  It  is  just  this  which  makes  him  dangerous 
in  an  unheard  of  degree.  His  forelegs  are  a 
little  higher  than  his  hind  ones ;  this  is  usual 
with  cattle  of  mountain  origin.  In  fact,  the 
bulls  of  the  circus  are  recruited  especially  from 
the  herds  in  the  Sierra  Morena.  Their  color 
is  for  the  greater  part  black,  rarely  reddish  or 
pied.  The  hair  is  short,  and  glossy  as  satin  ; 
only  the  neck  is  covered  somewhat  with  longer 
and  curly  hair. 

After  he  has  burst  into  the  arena,  the  bull 
slackens  his  pace  toward  the  centre,  looks 
with  bloodshot  eyes  to  the  right,  to  the  left,  — 
but  this  lasts  barely  two  seconds ;  he  sees  a 
group  of  capeadors ;  he  lowers  his  head  to  the 
ground,  and  hurls  himself  on  them  at  random. 

The  capeadors  scatter,  like  a  flock  of  spar- 


THE  BULL-FIGHT.  221 

rows  at  which  some  man  has  fired  small-shot. 
Holding  behind  them  red  capes,  they  circle 
now  in  the  arena,  with  a  swiftness  that  makes 
the  head  dizzy ;  they  are  everywhere ;  they 
glitter  to  the  right,  to  the  left ;  they  are  in  the 
middle  of  the  arena,  at  the  paling,  before  the 
eyes  of  the  bull,  in  front,  behind.  The  red 
capes  flutter  in  the  air,  like  banners  torn  by 
the  wind. 

The  bull  scatters  the  capeadors  in  every 
direction;  with  lightning-like  movements  he 
chases  one,  —  another  thrusts  a  red  cape  under 
his  very  eyes ;  the  bull  leaves  the  first  victim  to 
run  after  a  second,  but  before  he  can  turn,  some 
third  one  steps  up.  The  bull  rushes  at  that 
one  !  Distance  between  them  decreases,  the 
horns  of  the  bull  seem  to  touch  the  shoulder  of 
the  capeador ;  another  twinkle  of  an  eye  and 
he  will  be  nailed  to  the  pahng,  —  but  meanwhile 
the  man  touches  the  top  of  the  paling  with  his 
hand,  and  vanishes  as  if  he  had  dropped 
through  the  earth. 


222  THE  BULL-FIGHT. 

What  has  happened?  The  capeador  has 
sprung  into  the  passage  extending  between  the 
paling  and  the  first  row  of  seats. 

The  bull  chooses  another  man;  but  before 
he  has  moved  from  his  tracks  the  first  capeador 
thrusts  out  his  head  from  behind  the  paling, 
like  a  red  Indian  stealing  to  the  farm  of  a 
settler,  and  springs  to  the  arena  again.  The 
bull  pursues  more  and  more  stubbornly  those 
unattainable  enemies,  who  vanish  before  his  very 
horns ;  at  last  he  knows  where  they  are  hidden. 
He  collects  all  his  strength,  anger  gives  him 
speed,  and  he  springs  like  a  hunting-horse  over 
the  paling,  certain  that  he  will  crush  his  foes 
this  time  like  worms. 

But  at  that  very  moment  they  hurl  them- 
selves back  to  the  arena  with  the  agility  of 
chimpanzees,  and  the  bull  runs  along  the  empty 
passage,  seeing  no  one  before  him. 

The  entire  first  row  of  spectators  incline 
through  the  barrier,  then  strike  from  above  at 
the  bull  with  canes,   fans,  and  parasols.     The 


THE  BULL-FIGHT  223 

public  are  growing  excited.  A  bull  that  springs 
over  the  paling  recommends  himself  favorably. 
When  people  in  the  first  row  applaud  him  with 
all  their  might,  those  in  the  upper  rows  clap 
their  hands,  crying,  "  Bravo  el  toro  !  muy  buen  ! 
Bravo  el  toro  !  "  (Bravo  the  bull !  Very  well, 
bravo  the  bull !) 

Meanwhile  he  comes  to  an  open  door  and 
runs  out  again  to  the  arena.  On  the  opposite 
side  of  it  two  capeadors  are  sitting  on  a  step 
extending  around  the  foot  of  the  paling,  and 
are  conversing  without  the  slightest  anxiety. 
The  bull  rushes  on  them  at  once ;  he  is  in  the 
middle  of  the  arena,  —  and  they  sit  on  without 
stopping  their  talk ;  he  is  ten  steps  away,  — 
they  continue  sitting  as  if  they  had  not  seen 
him ;  he  is  fiw^  steps  away,  —  they  are  still  talk- 
ing. Cries  of  alarm  are  heard  here  and  there 
in  the  circus;  before  his  very  horns  the  two 
daring  fellows  spring,  one  to  the  right,  the 
other  to  the  left.  The  bull's  horns  strike  the 
paling  with  a  heavy  blow.     A  storm  of  hand- 


2  24  ^^^   BULL-FIGHT. 

clapping  breaks  out  in  the  circus,  and  at  that 
very  moment  these  and  other  capeadors  sur- 
round the  bull  again  and  provoke  him  with  red 
capes. 

His  madness  passes  now  into  fury :  he  hurls 
himself  forward,  rushes,  turns  on  his  tracks ; 
every  moment  his  horns  give  a  thrust,  every 
moment  it  seems  that  no  human  power  can 
wrest  this  or  that  man  from  death.  Still  the 
horns  cut  nothing  but  air,  and  the  red  capes  are 
glittering  on  all  sides ;  at  times  one  of  them 
falls  to  the  ground,  and  that  second  the  bull  in 
his  rage  drives  almost  all  of  it  into  the  sand. 
But  that  is  not  enough  for  him,  —  he  must  search 
out  some  victim,  and  reach  him  at  all  costs. 

Hence,  with  a  deep  bellow  and  with  blood- 
shot eyes  he  starts  to  run  forward  at  random, 
but  halts  on  a  sudden ;  a  new  sight  strikes  his 
eye,  —  that  is,  a  picador  on  horseback. 

The  picadors  had  stood  hitherto  on  their 
lean  horses,  like  statues,  their  lances  pointing 
upward.     The  bull,   occupied   solely  with   the 


THE   BULL-FIGHT,  225 

hated  capes,  had  not  seen  them,  or  if  he  had 
seen  them  he  passed  them. 

Almost  never  does  it  happen  that  the  bull 
begins  a  fight  with  horsemen.  The  capes  ab- 
sorb his  attention  and  rouse  all  his  rage.  It 
may  be,  moreover,  that  the  picadors  are  like 
his  half-wild  herdsmen  in  the  Sierra  Morena, 
whom  he  saw  at  times  from  a  distance,  and 
before  whom  he  was  accustomed  to  flee  with 
the  whole  herd. 

But  now  he  has  had  capes  enough ;  his  fury 
seeks  eagerly  some  body  to  pierce  and  on 
which  to  sate  his  vengeance. 

For  spectators  not  accustomed  to  this  kind 
of  play,  a  terrible  moment  is  coming.  Every 
one  understands  that  blood  must  be  shed  soon. 

The  bull  lowers  his  head  and  withdraws  a 
number  of  paces,  as  if  to  gather  impetus ;  the 
picador  turns  the  horse  a  little,  with  his  right 
side  to  the  attacker,  so  the  horse,  having  his 
right  eye  bound  with  a  cloth,  shall  not  push 
back  at  the  moment  of  attack.  The  lance  with 
15 


2  26  THE   BULL-FIGHT. 

a  short  point  is  lowered  in  the  direction  of  the 
bull ;  he  withdraws  still  more.  It  seems  to  you 
that  he  will  retreat  altogether,  and  your  op- 
pressed bosom  begins  to  breathe  with  more 
ease. 

Suddenly  the  bull  rushes  forward  like  a  rock 
rolling  down  from  a  mountain.  In  the  twinkle 
of  an  eye  you  see  the  lance  bent  like  a  bow ; 
the  sharp  end  of  it  is  stuck  in  the  shoulder  of 
the  bull,  —  and  then  is  enacted  a  thing  simply 
dreadful :  the  powerful  head  and  neck  of  the 
furious  beast  is  lost  under  the  belly  of  the 
horse,  his  horns  sink  their  whole  length  in 
the  horse's  intestines ;  sometimes  the  bull  lifts 
horse  and  rider,  sometimes  you  see  only  the 
up-raised  hind  part  of  the  horse,  struggling 
convulsively  in  the  air.  Then  the  rider  falls  to 
the  ground,  the  horse  tumbles  upon  him,  and 
you  hear  the  creaking  of  the  saddle ;  horse, 
rider,  and  saddle  form  one  shapeless  mass> 
which  the  raging  bull  tramples  and  bores  with 
his  horns. 


THE  BULL-FIGHT.  227 

Faces  unaccustomed  to  the  spectacle  grow 
pale.  In  Barcelona  and  Madrid  I  have  seen 
Englishwomen  whose  faces  had  become  as  pale 
as  linen.  Every  one  in  the  circus  for  the 
first  time  has  the  impression  of  a  catastrophe. 
When  the  rider  is  seen  rolled  into  a  lump, 
pressed  down  by  the  weight  of  the  saddle  and 
the  horse,  and  the  raging  beast  is  thrusting  his 
horns  with  fury  into  that  mass  of  flesh,  it  seems 
that  for  the  man  there  is  no  salvation,  and  that 
the  attendants  will  raise  a  mere  bloody  corpse 
from  the  sand. 

But  that  is  illusion.  All  that  is  done  is  in 
the  programme  of  the  spectacle. 

Under  the  white  leather  and  tinsel  the  rider 
has  armor  which  saves  him  from  being  crushed, 
—  he  fell  purposely  under  the  horse,  so  that 
the  beast  should  protect  him  with  his  body 
from  the  horns.  In  fact  the  bull,  seeing  before 
him  the  fleshy  mass  of  the  horse's  belly,  ex- 
pends on  it  mainly  his  rage.  Let  me  add  that 
the  duration  of  the  catastrophe  is  counted  by 


2  28  THE  BULL-FIGHT. 

seconds.  The  capeadors  have  attacked  the 
bull  from  every  side,  and  he,  wishing  to  free 
himself  from  them,  must  leave  his  victims.  He 
does  leave  them,  he  chases  again  after  the 
capeadors;  his  steaming  horns,  stained  with 
blood,  seem  again  to  be  just  touching  the 
capeadors'  shoulders.  They,  in  escaping,  lead 
him  to  the  opposite  side  of  the  arena;  other 
men  meanwhile  draw  from  beneath  the  horse 
the  picador,  who  is  barely  able  to  move  under 
the  weight  of  his  armor,  and  throw  him  over 
the  paling. 

The  horse  too  tries  to  raise  himself:  fre- 
quently he  rises  for  a  moment,  but  then  a 
ghastly  sight  strikes  the  eye.  From  his  torn 
belly  hangs  a  whole  bundle  of  intestines  with  a 
rosy  spleen,  bluish  liver,  and  greenish  stomach. 
The  hapless  beast  tries  to  walk  a  few  steps  ;  but 
his  trembhng  feet  tread  on  his  own  entrails,  he 
falls,  digs  the  ground  with  his  hoofs,  shudders. 
Meanwhile  the  attendants  run  up,  remove  the 
paddle  and  bridle,  and  finish  the  torments  of 


THE  BULL-FIGHT,  229 

the  horse  with  one  stab  of  a  stiletto,  at  the  point 
where  head  and  neck  come  together. 

On  the  arena  remains  the  motionless  body, 
which,  lying  now  on  its  side,  seems  wonderfully 
flat.  The  intestines  are  carried  out  quickly 
in  a  basket  which  is  somewhat  like  a  wash-tub, 
and  the  public  clap  their  hands  with  excite- 
ment. Enthusiasm  begins  to  seize  them : 
"  Bravo  el  toro  !  Bravo  picador  !  "  Eyes  are 
flashing,  on  faces  a  flush  comes,  a  number  of 
hats  fly  to  the  arena  in  honor  of  the  picador. 
Meanwhile  "el  toro,"  having  drawn  blood 
once,  kills  a  number  of  other  horses.  If  his 
horns  are  buried  not  in  the  belly  but  under 
the  shoulder  of  the  horse,  a  stream  of  dark 
blood  bursts  onto  the  arena  in  an  uncommon 
quantity ;  the  horse  rears  and  falls  backward 
with  his  rider.  A  twofold  danger  threatens 
the  man :  the  horns  of  the  bull  or,  in  spite  of 
his  armor,  the  breaking  of  his  neck.  But,  as 
we  have  said,  the  body  of  the  horse  becomes 
a  protection  to  the  rider ;  hence,  every  picador 


230  THE  BULL-FIGHT. 

tries  to  receive  battle  at  the  edge  of  the  arena, 
so  as  to  be,  as  it  were,  covered  between  the 
body  of  the  horse  and  the  paHng.  When  the 
bull  withdraws,  the  picador  advances,  but  only 
a  few  steps,  so  that  the  battle  never  takes 
place  in  the  centre. 

All  these  precautions  would  not  avail  much, 
and  the  bull  would  pierce  the  horseman  at  last, 
were  it  not  for  the  capeadors.  They  press  on 
the  bull,  draw  away  his  attention,  rush  with 
unheard  of  boldness  against  his  rage,  saving 
each  moment  the  hfe  of  some  participant  in 
the  fight.  Once  I  saw  an  espada,  retreating 
before  the  raging  beast,  stumble  against  the 
head  of  a  dead  horse  and  fall  on  his  back; 
death  inevitable  was  hanging  over  him,  the 
horns  of  the  bull  were  just  ready  to  pass  through 
his  breast,  when  suddenly  between  that  breast 
and  the  horns  the  red  capes  were  moving,  and 
the  bull  flew  after  the  capes.  It  may  be  said 
that  were  it  not  for  that  flock  of  chimpanzees 
waving  red  capes,   the   work  of  the  picadors 


THE   BULL-FIGHT.  23  I 

would  be  impossible,  and  at  every  represen- 
tation as  many  of  them  as  of  horses  would 
perish. 

It  happens  rarely  that  a  picador  can  stop  a 
bull  at  the  point  of  a  lance.  This  takes  place 
only  when  the  bull  advances  feebly,  or  the 
picador  is  gifted  with  gigantic  strength  of  arms, 
surpassing  the  measure  of  men.  I  saw  two  such 
examples  in  Madrid,  after  which  came  a  hurri- 
cane of  applause  for  the  picador. 

But  usually  the  bull  kills  horses  like  flies ; 
and  he  is  terrible  when,  covered  with  sweat, 
glittering  in  the  sun,  with  a  neck  bleeding 
from  lances  and  his  horns  painted  red,  he 
runs  around  the  arena,  as  if  in  the  drunken- 
ness of  victory.  A  deep  bellow  comes  from 
his  mighty  lungs ;  at  one  moment  he  scatters 
capeadors,  at  another  he  halts  suddenly  over 
the  body  of  a  horse,  now  motionless,  and 
avenges  himself  on  it  terribly,  —  he  raises  it  on 
his  horns,  carries  it  around  the  arena,  scatter- 
ing drops  of  stiff  blood  on  spectators  in  the 


232  THE  BULL-FIGHT. 

first  row ;  then  he  casts  it  again  on  the  stained 
sand  and  pierces  it  a  second  time.  It  seems 
to  him,  evidently,  that  the  spectacle  is  over,  and 
that  it  has  ended  in  his  triumph. 

But  the  spectacle  has  barely  passed  through 
one-half  of  its  course.  Those  picadors  whose 
horses  have  survived  the  defeat,  ride  out,  it  is 
true,  from  the  arena ;  but  in  place  of  them  run 
in  with  jumps,  and  amid  shouts,  nimble  ban- 
derilleros.  Every  one  of  them  in  his  upraised 
hands  has  two  arrows,  each  an  ell  long,  orna- 
mented, in  accordance  with  the  coat  of  the 
man,  with  a  blue,  a  green,  or  a  red  ribbon,  and 
ending  with  a  barbed  point,  which  once  it  is 
under  the  skin  will  not  come  out  of  it.  These 
men  begin  to  circle  about  the  bull,  shaking 
the  arrows,  stretching  toward  him  the  points, 
threatening  and  springing  up  toward  him. 
The  bull  rolls  his  bloodshot  eyes,  turns  his 
head  to  the  right,  to  the  left,  looking  to  see 
what  new  kind  of  enemies  these  are.  *^  Ah," 
says  he,  evidently,  to  himself,  ^^you  have  had 


THE  BULL-FIGHT.  233 

little  blood,  you  want  more  —  you  shall  have 
it !  "  and  selecting  the  man,  he  rushes  at 
him. 

But  what  happens?  The  first  man,  instead 
of  fleeing,  runs  toward  the  bull,  —  runs  past  his 
head,  as  if  he  wished  to  avoid  him ;  but  in 
that  same  second  something  seems  hanging 
in  the  air  like  a  rainbow :  the  man  is  running 
away  empty-handed  with  all  the  strength  of  his 
legs,  toward  the  paling,  and  in  the  neck  of  the 
bull  are  two  colored  arrows. 

After  a  moment  another  pair  are  sticking  in 
him,  and  then  a  third  pair,  —  six  altogether, 
with  three  colors.  The  neck  of  the  beast 
seems  now  as  if  ornamented  with  a  bunch  of 
flowers,  but  those  flowers  have  the  most  terrible 
thorns  of  any  on  earth.  At  every  movement 
of  the  bull,  at  every  turn  of  his  head,  the  arrows 
move,  shake,  fly  from  one  side  of  his  neck  to 
the  other,  and  with  that  every  point  is  boring 
into  the  wound.  Evidently  from  pain  the 
animal  is  falling  into  the  madness  of  rage ;  but 


2  34  ^^^   BULL-FIGHT. 

the  more  he  rushes  the  greater  his  pain. 
Hitherto  the  bull  was  the  wrong- doer,  now 
they  wrong  him^  and  terribly.  He  would  like 
to  free  himself  from  those  torturing  arrows ; 
but  there  is  no  power  to  do  that.  He  is  grow- 
ing mad  from  mere  torment,  and  is  harassed 
to  the  utmost.  Foam  covers  his  nostrils,  his 
tongue  is  protruding ;  he  bellows  no  longer, 
but  in  the  short  intervals  between  the  wild 
shouts,  the  clapping,  and  the  uproar  of  the 
spectators,  you  may  hear  his  groans,  which 
have  an  accent  almost  human.  The  capea- 
dors  harassed  him,  every  picador  wounded  him, 
now  the  arrows  are  working  into  his  wounds ; 
thirst  and  heat  complete  his  torments. 

It  is  his  luck  that  he  did  not  get  another 
kind  of  "  banderille."  If  —  which,  however, 
happens  rarely  —  the  bull  refuses  to  attack  the 
horses  and  has  killed  none,  the  enraged  public 
rise,  and  in  the  circus  something  in  the  nature 
of  a  revolution  sets  in.  Men  with  their  canes 
and  women  with  their  parasols  and  fans  turn  to 


THE  BULL-FIGHT.  235 

the  royal  box ;  wild,  hoarse  voices  of  cruel 
cavaliers,  and  the  shrill  ones  of  senoritas,  shout 
only  one  word  :  "  Fuego  !  fuego  !  fuego  !  " 
(Fire,  fire,  fire  !) 

The  representatives  of  the  government  with- 
hold their  consent  for  a  long  time.  Hence 
"  Fuego  !  "  is  heard  ever  more  threateningly, 
and  drowns  all  other  voices ;  the  threat  rises 
to  such  an  intensity  as  to  make  us  think  that 
the  public  may  pass  at  any  instant  from 
words  to  a  mad  deed  of  some  kind.  Half 
an  hour  passes  :  "  Fuego  !  fuego  !  "  There  is 
no  help  for  it.  The  signal  is  given,  and  the 
unfortunate  bull  gets  a  banderille  which 
when  thrust  into  his  neck  blazes  up  that  same 
instant. 

The  points  wound  in  their  own  way,  and  in 
their  own  way  rolls  of  smoke  surround  the  head 
of  the  beast,  the  rattle  of  fireworks  stuns  him ; 
great  sparks  fall  into  his  wounds,  small  con- 
greve  rockets  burst  under  his  skin ;  the  smell 
of  burnt   flesh  and  singed  hair  fill  the  arena. 


236  THE   BULL-FIGHT. 

In  truth,  cruelty  can  go  no  further;  but  the 
dehght  of  the  public  rises  now  to  its  zenith. 
The  eyes  of  women  are  covered  with  mist 
from  excitement,  every  breast  is  heaving  with 
pleasure,  their  heads  fall  backward,  and  be- 
tween their  open  moist  lips  are  gleaming  white 
teeth.  You  would  say  that  the  torment  of 
the  beast  is  reflected  in  the  nerves  of  those 
women  with  an  answering  degree  of  delight. 
Only  in  Spain  can  such  things  be  seen.  There 
is  in  that  frenzy  something  hysterical,  some- 
thing which  recalls  certain  Phoenician  myste- 
ries, performed  on  the  altar  of  Melitta. 

The  daring  and  skill  of  the  banderilleros  sur- 
pass every  measure.  I  saw  one  of  them  who 
had  taken  his  place  in  the  middle  of  the  arena 
in  an  arm-chair ;  he  had  stretched  his  legs 
carelessly  before  him,  —  they  were  in  rose- 
colored  stockings,  —  he  crossed  them,  and  hold- 
ing above  his  head  a  banderille,  was  waiting  for 
the  bull.  The  bull  rushed  at  him  straightway ; 
the   next  instant,   I  saw  only  that  the  bande- 


THE   BULL-FIGHT  237 

rille  was  fastened  in  the  neck,  and  the  bull  was 
smashing  the  chair  with  mad  blows  of  his  head. 
In  what  way  the  man  had  escaped  between  the 
chair  and  the  horns,  I  know  not,  —  that  is  the 
secret  of  his  skill.  Another  banderillero,  at 
the  same  representation,  seizing  the  lance  of  a 
picador  at  the  moment  of  attack,  supported 
himself  with  it,  and  sprang  over  the  back  and 
whole  length  of  the  bull.  The  beast  was  dum- 
founded,  could  not  understand  where  his  victim 
had  vanished. 

A  multitude  of  such  wonders  of  daring  and 
dexterity  are  seen  at  each  representation. 

One  bull  never  gets  more  than  three  pairs  of 
banderilles.  When  the  deed  is  accomplished, 
a  single  trumpet  is  heard  in  the  orchestra  with 
a  prolonged  and  sad  note,  —  and  the  moment 
the  most  exciting  and  tragic  in  the  spectacle 
approaches.  All  that  was  done  hitherto  was 
only  preparation  for  this.  Now  a  fourth  act 
of  the  drama  is  played. 

On  the  arena  comes  out  the  ^'  matador  "  him- 


238  THE  BULL-FIGHT. 

self,  —  that  is,  the  espada.  He  is  dressed  Uke 
the  other  participants  in  the  play,  only  more 
elaborately  and  richly.  His  coat  is  all  gold  and 
tinsel :  costly  laces  adorn  his  breast.  He  may 
be  distinguished  by  this  too,  —  that  he  comes 
out  bareheaded  always.  His  black  hair,  combed 
back  carefully,  ends  on  his  shoulders  in  a  small 
tail.  In  his  left  hand  he  holds  a  red  cloth  flag, 
in  his  right  a  long  Toledo  sword.  The  capea- 
dors  surround  him  as  soldiers  their  chief,  ready 
at  all  times  to  save  him  in  a  moment  of  danger, 
and  he  approaches  the  bull,  collected,  cool,  but 
terrible  and  triumphant. 

In  all  the  spectators  the  hearts  are  throb- 
bing violently,  and  a  moment  of  silence  sets 
in. 

In  Barcelona  and  Madrid  I  saw  the  four 
most  eminent  espadas  in  Spain,  and  in  truth  I 
admit,  that  besides  their  cool  blood,  dexterity, 
and  training,  they  have  a  certain  hypnotic 
power,  which  acts  on  the  animal  and  fills  him 
with  mysterious  alarm.     The  bull  simply  bears 


THE  BULL-FIGHT.  239 

himself  diiferently  before  the  espada  from 
what  he  did  before  the  previous  participants  in 
the  play.  It  is  not  that  he  withdraws  before 
him;  on  the  contrary,  he  attacks  him  with 
greater  insistence  perhaps.  But  in  former 
attacks,  in  addition  to  rage,  there  was  evident 
a  certain  desire.  He  hunted,  he  scattered,  he 
killed ;  he  was  as  if  convinced  that  the  whole 
spectacle  was  for  him,  and  that  the  question 
was  only  in  this,  that  he  should  kill.  Now,  at 
sight  of  that  cold,  awful  man  with  a  sword  in 
his  hand,  he  convinces  himself  that  death  is 
there  before  him,  that  he  must  perish,  that  on 
that  bloody  sand  the  ghastly  deed  will  be  ac- 
complished in  some  moments. 

This  mental  state  of  the  beast  is  so  evident 
that  every  man  can  divine  it.  Perhaps  even 
this,  by  its  tragic  nature,  becomes  the  charm  of 
the  spectacle.  That  mighty  organism,  simply 
seething  with  a  superabundance  of  vitality,  of 
desire,  of  strength,  is  unwilhng  to  die,  will  not 
consent  to  die  for  anything  in  the  world  !  and 


240  THE  BULL-FIGHT. 

death,  unavoidable,  irresistible,  is  approaching ; 
hence  unspeakable  sorrow,  unspeakable  despair, 
throbs  through  every  movement  of  the  bull. 
He  hardly  notices  the  capeadors,  whom  before 
he  pursued  with  such  venom  ;  he  attacks  the 
espada  himself,  but  he  attacks  with  despair 
completely  evident. 

The  espada  does  not  kill  him  at  once,  for 
that  is  not  permitted  by  the  rules  of  the  play. 
He  deceives  the  bull  with  movements  of  the 
flag,  himself  he  pushes  from  the  horns  by  turns 
slight  and  insignificant ;  he  waits  for  the 
moment,  withdraws,  advances.  Evidently  he 
wishes  to  sate  the  public  ;  now,  this  very  in- 
stant, he  '11  strike,  now  he  lowers  his  sword 
again. 

The  struggle  extends  over  the  whole  arena ; 
it  glitters  in  the  sun,  is  dark  in  the  shade.  In 
the  circus  applause  is  heard,  now  general,  now 
single  from  the  breast  of  some  sefiorita  who  is 
unable  to  restrain  her  enthusiasm.  At  one 
moment  bravos  are  thundering;  at  another,  if 


THE  BULL-FIGHT.  24 1 

the  espada  has  retreated  awkwardly  or  given 
a  false  blow,  hissing  rends  the  ear.  The  bull 
has  now  given  some  tens  of  blows  with  his 
horns,  —  always  to  the  flag ;  the  public  are 
satisfied ;  here  and  there  voices  are  crying : 
"  Mata  el  toro  !  mata  el  toro  !  "  (Kill  the  bull ! 
kill  the  bull !) 

And  now  a  flash  comes  so  suddenly  that 
the  eye  cannot  follow  it ;  then  the  group  of 
fighters  scatter,  and  in  the  neck  of  the  bull, 
above  the  colored  banderilles,  is  seen  the  red 
hilt  of  the  sword.  The  blade  has  gone  through 
the  neck,  and,  buried  two  thirds  of  its  length, 
is  planted  in  the  lungs  of  the  beast. 

The  espada  is  defenceless ;  the  bull  attacks 
yet,  but  he  misleads  him  in  the  old  fashion 
with  the  flag,  he  saves  himself  from  the  blows 
with  half  turns. 

Meanwhile   it  seems  that  people  have  gone 

wild  in  the  circus.     No  longer  shouts,  but  one 

bellow    and    howl    are    heard,    around,    from 

above  to  below.     All  are  springing  from  their 

16 


242  THE   BULL-FIGHT, 

seats.  To  the  arena  are  flying  bouquets, 
cigar-cases,  hats,  fans.  The  fight  is  approach- 
ing its  end. 

A  film  is  coming  over  the  eyes  of  the  bull ; 
from  his  mouth  are  hanging  stalactites  of  bloody 
saliva ;  his  groan  becomes  hoarse.  Night  is 
embracing  his  head.  The  glitter  and  heat  of 
the  sun  concern  him  no  longer.  He  attacks 
yet,  but  as  it  were  in  a  dream.  It  is  darker 
and  darker  for  him.  At  last  he  collects  the 
remnant  of  his  consciousness,  backs  to  the 
paling,  totters  for  a  moment,  kneels  on  his 
fore  feet,  drops  on  his  hind  ones,  and  begins 
to  die. 

The  espada  looks  at  him  no  longer;  he 
has  his  eyes  turned  to  the  spectators,  from 
whom  hats  and  cigar-cases  are  flying,  thick 
as  hail ;  he  bows ;  capeadors  throw  back  to 
the  spectators  their  hats. 

Meanwhile  a  mysterious  man  dressed  in 
black  climbs  over  the  paling  in  silence  and 
puts   a  stiletto   in   the   bull,  where  the  neck- 


THE   BULL-FIGHT.  243 

bone  meets  the  skull;  with  a  light  movement 
he  sinks  it  to  the  hilt  and  turns  it. 

That  is  the  blow  of  mercy,  after  which  the 
head  of  the  bull  drops  on  its  side. 

All  the  participants  pass  out.  For  a  moment 
the  arena  is  empty ;  on  it  are  visible  only  the 
body  of  the  bull  and  the  eviscerated  carcasses 
of  four  or  five  horses,  now  cold. 

But  after  a  while  rush  in  with  great  speed 
men  with  mules,  splendidly  harnessed  in  yellow 
and  red;  the  men  attach  these  mules  to  the 
bodies  and  draw  them  around  so  that  the 
public  may  enjoy  the  sight  once  again,  then 
with  speed  equally  great  they  go  out  through 
the  doors  of  the  arena. 

But  do  not  imagine  that  the  spectacle  is 
ended  with  one  bull.  After  the  first  comes 
a  second,  after  the  second  a  third,  and  so  on. 
In  Madrid  six  bulls  perish  at  a  representation. 
In  Barcelona,  at  the  time  of  the  fair,  eight 
were  killed. 

Do   not    think   either   that   the   public   are 


244  '^^^   BULL-FIGHT. 

wearied  by  the  monotony  of  the  fight.  To 
begin  with,  the  fight  itself  is  varied  with  per- 
sonal episodes  caused  by  temperament,  the 
greater  or  less  rage  of  the  bull,  the  greater  or 
less  skill  of  the  men  in  their  work  ;  secondly, 
that  public  is  never  annoyed  at  the  sight  of 
blood  and  death. 

The  ^Uoreadores"  (though  in  Spain  no  par- 
ticipant in  the  fight  is  called  a  toreador), 
thanks  to  their  dexterity,  rarely  perish ;  but 
if  that  happens,  the  spectacle  is  considered 
as  the  more  splendid,  and  the  bull  receives 
as  much  applause  as  the  espada.  Since,  how 
ever,  accidents  happen  to  people  sometimes, 
at  every  representation,  besides  the  doctor, 
there  is  present  a  priest  with  the  sacrament. 
That  spiritual  person  is  not  among  the  audi- 
ence, of  course ;  but  he  waits  in  a  special 
room,  to  which  the  wounded  are  borne  in 
case  of  an  accident. 

Whether    in    time,    under    the    influence    of 
civilization,   bull-fights    will   be    abandoned    in 


THE  BULL-FIGHT. 


245 


Spain,  it  is  difficult  to  say.  The  love  of  those 
fights  is  very  deep  in  the  nature  of  the  Spanish 
people.  The  higher  and  intelligent  ranks  of 
society  take  part  in  them  gladly.  The  de- 
fenders of  these  spectacles  say  that  in  sub- 
stance they  are  nothing  more  than  hazardous 
hunting,  which  answers  to  the  knighdy 
character  of  the  nation.  But  hunting  is  an 
amusement,  not  a  career;  in  hunting  there 
is  no  audience,  —  only  actors ;  there  are  no 
throngs  of  women,  half  fainting  from  delight 
at  the  spectacle  of  torment  and  death ; 
finally,  in  hunting  no  one  exposes  his  life 
for  hire. 

Were  I  asked  if  the  spectacle  is  beautiful, 
I  should  say  yes ;  beautiful  especially  in  its 
surroundings,  —  that  sun,  those  shades,  those 
thousands  of  fans  at  sight  of  which  it  seems 
as  though  a  swarm  of  butterflies  had  settled 
on  the  seats  of  the  circus,  those  eyes,  those 
red  moist  lips.  Beautiful  is  that  incalculable 
quantity  of  warm  and  strong  tones,  that  mass 


246  THE  BULL-FIGHT. 

of  colors,  gold,  tinsel,  that  inflamed  sand,  from 
which  heat  is  exhaling,  —  finally  those  proofs 
of  bold  daring,  and  that  terror  hanging  over 
the  play.  All  that  is  more  beautiful  by  far 
than  the  streams  of  blood  and  the  torn  bellies 
of  the   horses. 

He,  however,  who  knows  these  spectacles 
only  from  description,  and  sees  them  after- 
wards with  his  own  eyes,  cannot  but  think : 
what  a  wonderful  people  for  whom  the  high- 
est amusement  and  delight  is  the  sight  of  a 
thing  so  awful,  so  absolute  and  inevitable  as 
death.  Whence  comes  that  love?  Is  it 
simply  a  remnant  of  Middle-age  cruelty;  or 
is  it  that  impulse  which  is  roused  in  many 
persons,  for  instance  at  sight  of  a  precipice, 
to  go  as  near  as  possible  to  the  brink,  to 
touch  that  curtain,  behind  which  begin  the 
mystery  and  the  pit?  —  that  is  a  wonderful 
passion,  which  in  certain  souls  becomes  irre- 
sistible. 

Of  the    Spaniards   it   may  be    said,   that  in 


THE  BULL-FIGHT. 


247 


the  whole  course  of  their  history  they  have 
shown  a  tendency  to  extremes.  Few  people 
have  been  so  merciless  in  warfare ;  none  have 
turned  a  religion  of  love  into  such  a  gloomy 
and  bloody  worship ;  finally,  no  other  nation 
amuses  itself  by  playing  with  death. 


other  Works  by  Henryk  Sienkiewicz. 


TOlt!)  Jire  anti  Sinortl.  An  Historical  Novel  of 
Poland  and  Russia.  By  Henryk  Sienkiewicz. 
Translated  from  the  original  by  Jeremiah  Curtin. 
Crown  8vo.  Cloth,  $2.00.  Library  edition,  2  vols  , 
crown  8vo,  cloth,  gilt  top,  ^3.00. 

2rf}e  3@eluge.  An  Historical  Novel  of  Poland. 
Sweden,  and  Russia,  a  sequel  to  **  With  P^ire  and 
Sword,'*  translated  from  the  Polish  of  Henryk 
Sienkiewicz  by  Jeremiah  Curtin.  With  photogravure 
portrait  of  the  author  and  map  of  the  country  at  the 
period  of  the  stories.     2  vols.     Crown  8vo.     Cloth, 

Every  one  should  read  these  remarkable  books.  They  have 
received  the  highest  praise  everywhere.  The  distinguished 
writer,  Charles  Dudley  Warner,  in  a  review  of  "  With  Fire  and 
Sword "  in  "  Harper's  Monthly  Magazine,"  says  that  the 
author  has  given,  in  the  character  of  Zagloba,  a  new  type  to 
the  literature  of  fiction. 

Of  these  extraordinary  romances  it  has  been  truly  said  that 
action  in  the  field  has  never  before  been  described  in  any  lan- 
guage with  such  a  marvellous  expression  of  energy.  The 
comparisons  which  have  suggested  themselves  to  American 
critics  couple  the  Polish  novelist  with  such  names  as  Scott, 
Dumas,  Schiller,  Cervantes,  Shakespeare,  and  Homer.  The 
character  of  Zagloba  has  been  described  as  "a  curious  and 
fascinating  combination  of  Falstaff  and  Ulysses." 

"  The  only  modern  romance  with  which  *  Fire  and  Sword' 
can  be  compared,"  says  the  "  New  York  Tribune,"  **  is  '  The 
Three  Musketeers.' " 


A  new  Historical  Romance  by  Henryk  Sienkiewicz, 

completing  "  With  Fire  and  Sword  " 

and  "  The  Deluge." 

Pan  ilHtcfjael  An  Historical  Novel  of  Poland,  the 
Ukraine,  and  Turkey.  A  sequel  to  "  With  Fire  and 
Sword  "  and  *'  The  Deluge."  Translated  by  Jere- 
miah CuRTiN.     Crown  8vo.     Cloth,  $2.00. 

This  great  historical  romance  completes  the  remarkable 
series  of  historical  novels  by  Sienkiewicz,  begun  by  "  With  Fire 
and  Sword"  and  continued  in  "  The  Deluge,"  These  power- 
ful works  have  been  received  everywhere  with  enthusiastic 
commendation,  and  the  publication  of  the  final  story  of  the 
trilogy  can  only  add  to  and  continue  their  popularity. 


Without  Dogma.     A  new  novel  by  the  author  of 
"  With  Fire  and  Sword." 

SJattf}0Ut  3B0gtna.  a  Novel  of  Modern  Poland. 
By  Henryk  Sienkiewicz.  Translated  from  the 
Polish  by  IzA  Young.     Crown  8vo      Cloth,  ^1.50. 

A  psychological  novel  of  modern  thought,  and  of  great 
power.  Its  utter  contrast  to  the  author's  historical  romances 
exhibits  in  a  most  striking  manner  the  remarkable  variety  of 
his  genius. 

A  triumph  of  psychology.  —  Chicago    Times. 

Belongs  to  a  high  order  of  fiction.  — New  York  Times. 

A  masterly  piece  of  writing.  —  Pittsburg  Bulletin. 

Intellectually  the  novel  is  a  masterpiece.  —  Christian 
Union. 

Emphatically  a  human  document.  —  The  Bostoji  Beacon. 

Displays  the  most  remarkable  genius  —  Bostott  Home 
Journal. 

Both  absorbing  and  instructive.  —  Boston  Courier, 


ganfeo  tfje  Mumim  anti  ©tl)er  Storieg. 

By  Henryk  Sienkiewicz.     Translated  from  the  Polish  by 
Jeremiah   Curtin.      Illustrated   by   Edmund    H.   Garrett. 
•     i6mo.     White  and  gold.     ^1.25. 

This  charming  volume  contains  the  following  stories  of 
two  continents  by  the  popular  author  of  "  With  Fire  and 
Sword,"  ''The  Deluge,"  etc.:  I.  Yanko  the  Musician;  II. 
The  Lighthouse  Keeper  of  Aspinwall  ;  III.  From  the  Diary 
of  a  Tutor  in  Poznan;  IV.  A  Comedy  of  Errors,  a  Sketch  of 
American  Life  ;  V.  Bartek  the  Victor.  "  Yanko  the  Musician," 
the  initial  story  of  the  volumes,  won  the  author  his  fame.  In 
a  review  of  Sienkiewicz  in  Blackwood's  Magazine,  this  beauti- 
ful story  was  fittingly  described  as  a  little  poem  in  prose^  abso- 
lutely perfect  of  its  kind. 

**  Bartek  the  Victor  "  is  the  story  of  a  hero  of  the  Franco- 
Prussian  war.  The  Blackwood  reviewer,  writing  of  it,  says : 
"The  battle  of  Gravelotte  is  so  adnlirably  described  that  it  is 
difficult  to  believe  the  writer  not  to  have  been  actively  engaged 
in  it  himself." 

The  stories  are  deeply  intellectual.  —  Philadelphia  Public 
Ledger. 

The  tale  of  Yanko  has  wonderful  pathos.  —  Chicago  Herald. 

Exquisite  in  technical  expression.  —  Boston  Beacon. 

There  is  an  outdoor  freshness  about  these  tales,  and  an  impulse 
which,  like  Polish  music,  sets  one's  blood  a-tingling.  —  New  Haven 
Register. 

They  are  full  of  powerful  interest.  —  Boston  Courier. 

The  simple  story  of  the  lighthouse  man  is  a  little  masterpiece.  — 
New  York  Times. 

The  admirers  of  the  distinguished  Polish  novelist  will  not  be 
disappointed  in  this  volume  of  short  stories,  which  is  beautifully 
illustrated  by  Edmund  H.  Garrett,  and  daintily  bound.  —  Boston 
Home  Journal. 

These  stories  show  that  he  touches  nothing  without  mastery. — 
Christian  Register, 

The  title  story  is  a  strangely  simple,  pathetic  story  of  a  weakling 
child  with  a  passion  for  music.  The  careful,  loving  treatment  of  the 
slight  plot  makes  it,  even  in  translation,  a  beautiful  story.  —  Chicago 
Figaro. 

Five  stories,  all  conceived  with  great  power  and  written  with 
masterly  skill.  —  Boston  Gazette. 


Ei)Z  33lmt(  Mumim.     Translated  from  the  Russian 
of  Vladimir  Korolenko  by  Aline  Delano.     With  In- 
troduction by  George  Kennan,  and  illustrations  by  Edmund 
H.Garrett.     i6mo.     Cloth,  gilt  top,  ^1.25. 
This  unique  and  exquisite  little  book  is  less  a  story  than   a 
wonderfully  faithful  and  delicate  study  in  psychology.     Though  told 
in  prose,  it  is  in  essence  a  poem.     The  volume  is  in  edition  de  luxe^ 
with  dainty  and  charming  bits  of  vignette  illustration  and  a  perfection 
of  finish  which  gives  refined  pleasure  to  the  touch  as  well  as  to  the 
eye.  —  Boston  Transcript. 

a  Moman  of  Sl}aiBmut*  a  Romance  of  Colonial 
Times.  (Boston,  1640.)  By  Edmund  Janes  Carpen- 
ter. With  12  charming  full-page  illustrations  and  numer- 
ous chapter-headings  from  pen-and-ink  drawings  by  F.  T. 
Merrill.  i6mo.  Cloth,  extra,  gilt  top,  ^1.25. 
Has  qualities  placing  it  among  the  prose  poems  of  recent  litera- 

ture. — Boston  yournal. 

Clever  pictures  of  old  Boston.  —  Boston  Transcript. 

A  decidedly  artistic  specimen  of  bookmaking.  —  Boston  Gazette. 

CTarme,  a  Storg  cf  Sfeetien.    By  Louis  fiNAiiLT. 

Translated  from  the  French  by  Linda  I)e  Kowalewska. 

With  thirty-nine  Illustrations  by  Louis  K.  Harlow.    i6mo. 

Cloth,  gilt   top,  ^1.25.      Uniform  with    "A  Woman  of 

Shawmut." 

Swedish  life  in  all  its  varying  domestic  aspects,  as  seen  from 
intimacy  with  cultivated  and  refined  people,  is  revealed  with  exqui- 
site fidelity ;  and  the  portrayal  of  Carine's  problematic  character  is 
elaborated  in  a  veritably  artistic  manner.  The  whole  story  has  the 
idyllic  touch.  —  Boston  Beacon. 

ilgrfcg  anti  EegentlS,     By  Nora  Perry,  author  of 
"  After  the  Ball,"  ''  A  Flock  of  Girls  and  Their  Friends," 
etc.     Illustrated  by  Edmund  H.  Garrett.     i6mo.     Cloth, 
gilt  top,  ^1.25. 
Many  of  the  songs  have  already  sung  themselves  into  the  hearts 

of  those  who   love  beautiful  thought   in   beautiful   form,  —  Public 

opinion. 


LITTLE,  BROWN,  &  CO.,  Publishers. 


